Possibility of H7N9 mass outbreak small, expert says

China will likely see more sporadic cases of infection by the H7N9 avian flu during its high season, which runs through winter to spring, but the chances of a mass outbreak remain quite slim, said a top expert.

Hou Yunde, a virologist and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, made the remarks as the latest human infection of H7N9 avian flu was reported in Shandong province on Tuesday.

The victim was a 60-year-old farmer in Linyi who was infected while working in neighboring Jiangsu province. He was taken to a hospital on Jan 7 and died 10 days later.