Guangzhou closes poultry markets to stop bird flu

The major city of Guangzhou in southern China has closed its live poultry markets for two weeks as part of efforts to halt the spread of bird flu.

The city government says the closure takes effect on Saturday and lasts through Feb. 28.

China has suffered at least 32 deaths from the H7N9 flu strathis year, according to the government’s Xinhua News Agency. Guangdong province, where Guangzhou is the capital, is one of the hardest-hit areas.