BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhuanet) -- World Health Organization and Chinese government officials have held a press conference in Shanghai on their investigation into the H7N9 bird flu. As of Sunday night, a total of 33 cases of human infection had been confirmed in the city. Eight of those patients have already recovered, 11 have died, while 14 are still undergoing treatment.

Some parts of China have been plagued by the H7N9 bird flu. And fears still exist that family members can infect one another. But at Monday’s press conference in Shanghai, health officials said there was no need for panic. The situation is not as bad as expected.

WHO officials reiterated that there is still no evidence the new strain of deadly bird flu has been passed between humans. Keiji Fukuda, Asst. Director General of Health Security & Environment, WHO, said, "Right now we do not see evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission."

WHO experts have been inspecting all Chinese regions that have been hit by the H7N9 virus. They have been cooperating with their Chinese counterparts to survey labs, hospitals, clinics, markets and sites where infections were reported in Beijing and Shanghai.

Although achievements have been made to create an emergency plan and precautionary mechanisms, there is still no effective vaccine to fight against the virus.

(Source: cntv.com)