General Comments Chinese authorities have reported that a newly identified strain of bird flu has caused a number of deaths and serious illnesses in recent weeks. It is thought that as many as seven people have died as a result of this strain now identified as H7N9. It is being described as a silent viral disease because it seems to spread among poultry without being noticed, making it harder to track than earlier bird flu viruses. It apparently can mutate and spread to other animals. Several years ago, an earlier H5N1 strain of bird flu became widespread in China, and when it was found in a few other areas, it triggered fears of a pandemic.During the earlier outbreak, Chinese authorities at first attempted to muzzle reports of the sprea...