International scientists studying the new H7N9 Bird Flu in China are alarmed:  They say, “This is definitely one of the most lethal influenza viruses we have seen so far.”

So far, China is confirming 22 deaths and 108 infections of the new H7N9 virus.  Health officials are concerned because the virus never crossed over from birds to humans before a few weeks ago.

Dr. Keiji Fukuda, one of the leading flu experts for the World Health Organization (WHO) is leading the investigation.  He says, “We think this virus is more transmissible to humans than H5N1,” referring to an earlier Bird Flu that killed 360 since 2006.

WHO believes the likely source of infection was poultry, as chickens, ducks and pigeons from poultry markets had tested positive for H7N9.  The good news is that so far, it appears to be confined to Shanghai and a few eastern provinces of China.