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China steps up monitoring as new bird flu cases confirmed
The number of confirmed H7N9 bird flu cases in the country increased last night after Shanghai reported another six illnesses, five of them "diagnosed retrospectively," the state-run Shanghai Daily said today.

Two fatalities among the group have raised the total number of H7N9 deaths in the country to 16. Yesterday's increase in reported cases by 14 was the biggest single-day increase in the spread of the disease so far. The total number of illnesses to date is 77, including the deaths.

Besides Shanghai, the latest reported cases of the new virus were in eastern China provinces where the disease has been concentrated all along. Three cases were reported in Jiangsu and five in Zhejiang.

Beijing and major eastern Chinese cities have closed live poultry markets and are taking other precautions to limit the spread of the new virus. Shanghai state media just yesterday declared the H7N9 situation "stable" before announcing six new cases. (See report here.)

The spread of the flu has nevertheless had a big impact on China's chicken industry, the world's second largest after the United States. And one of the country's most important auto exhibitions this year will be held in Shanghai next week. GM and Ford are among the world's most important automakers that will be on hand and trying to woo consumers in the world's biggest auto market.