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Chinese health authorities have stepped up measures to counter the spread of bird flu, amid fears that the virus could be spread by millions of people travelling for New Year celebrations.
More than 3.6 billion trips are expected to be made over the Spring Festival period, in what is the largest annual human migration on Earth. Health experts have warned that large numbers of people travelling in confined spaces in coaches, trains and aircraft could create ideal conditions for the spread of the flu.
The increase in new cases of H7N9 bird flu accelerated significantly in January. More than 260 cases have been recorded since the first human infection in March last year, with more than 100 within the past month. Around a quarter of cases have proved fatal.
Show all 40 1 /40In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations UK Young cultural ambassadors from Beijing dressed in traditional clothes pose for pictures during a photocall in the heart of London's Chinatown ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Hong Kong Performers take part in a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong. Chinese communities across Asia have come together to usher in the Year of the Horse
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Hong Kong Performers get ready before the start of a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Hong Kong Performers display a dragon dance during a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Hong Kong Performers chat before the start of a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Hong Kong Performers dance at the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong Kong
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Dancers perform a fire dragon dance in the shower of molten iron spewing firework-like sparks during a folk art performance to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Festival on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Folk dancers huddled together during cold weather as they prepared for their performance on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Longtan park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Worshippers burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at Dafo temple in Chongqing municipality
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Chinese worshippers burn joss sticks at the Dongyue Temple in the hope that it brings them prosperity and good fortune for the Year of the Horse in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A vendor sells artificial flowers and apples, popularly used as decorations, on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Longtan park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A performer exhibiting his skills in strength stretches a bow fortified with high tension cables during an entertainment segments for visitors to a temple park to mark the Lunar New Year in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Bali, Indonesia An Indonesian ethnic Chinese man lights incense as he prays during Chinese New Year celebrations at a temple in Kuta
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Bali, Indonesia People hold incense sticks as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Bahtara Sasana Temple in Denpasar
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Bali, Indonesia A Balinese woman holds incense sticks as she attends prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Dwipayana Tanah Kilap Temple in Denpasar
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Bali, Indonesia Two kids hold incense sticks as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Satya Dharma Temple in Denpasar
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Bali, Indonesia A woman with her children hold incense sticks as they attends prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Satya Dharma Temple in Denpasar
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Indonesia A Chinese opera performer prepares backstage before The Beauty of China Opera show at Pakuwon Bllroom in Surabaya
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Indonesia Actors perform on stage during The Beauty of China Opera show at Pakuwon Ballroom in Surabaya
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Thailand Three young children pose for the camera in traditional costume in Chinatown in Bangkok
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China The horse toys are seen at a game area of the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Preparations for the Year of the Horse celebrations start ahead of the last day of January
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Performers in traditional costume entertain visitors on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A clown performs at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A man pulls ribbons from his mouth as he performs a feat of his strength during the opening of the temple fair for Chinese New Year celebrations at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A performer in traditional costume entertain visitors on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Performers do the horse dance on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A performer gets ready for his performance on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China A Chinese family pose for photos with a folk artist at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China Chinese folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations China The Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Bali, Indonesia People take part in a dragon dance parade one day before the Lunar new year of the horse in Kuta on Bali
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Cambodia People pray in a temple in Phnom Penh
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Cambodia Lion dancers prepare to perform in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Hong Kong People stand under the lanterns displayed for the Lunar New Year as China prepares for the Year of the Horse at Wet Kowloon waterfront promenade in Hong Kong
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Indonesia People pray at a temple in Jakarta's China town ahead the upcoming Lunar New Year Year of the Horse
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Indonesia An elderly woman waits for customers at her shop that sells Chinese New Year decorations in Makassar
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Philippines A Filipino group performs a lion dance on the evening of the Chinese New Year in Manila Ocean Park
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Philippines A saleswoman holds Chinese lanterns for a customer in front of a department store on the evening of Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district of Binondo
In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations Philippines Customers choose from various good luck charms sold during the evening of the Chinese New Year in Manila's Chinatown
The vast majority of victims so far have had a history of exposure to poultry, usually at live poultry markets, and so far there has been no evidence of the kind of sustained transmission between humans that could lead to a pandemic.
Live poultry markets have been banned in cities in eastern Zhejiang Province, and in Shanghai. The virus has also spread to Hong Kong.
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