147 H7N9 bird flu human infections reported in S China

Sporadic H7N9 bird flu human infections have been reported in recent weeks in South China's Guangdong province. The first case of this strain was found in April.

So far, 147 people have been infected -- 144 on the Chinese mainland, two in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. China's CDC says no evidence shows that the virus can be transmitted between people, but both animal-to-human and human-to-human routes of transmission are being investigated.

As for the newly reported H8N10 influenza, which has killed one on the Chinese mainland, one expert says it has no direct link to the H7N9 strain.

"Human infections of H7N9 bird flu reached a peak in April and then the number of reported cases fell. Only a few were reported in July, August and September. Since October, we've seen a small rise in infections in Guangdong province and Hong Kong. Cases of infection are sporadic, as the virus is only transmitted from animal to human.,so it could hardly be epidemic." Feng Zijian, deputy director of Chinese Center for Disease Control & Prevention, said.