China confirms more human bird flu infections

China has confirmed 106 cases of human H7N9 bird flu infections, and 20 deaths in December, according to a statement issued on the website of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Wednesday.

The new official number is a significant jump from around 40 cases that had been revealed in media reports and by local government to date. The latest government statement did not include details of where each case happened.

China has culled more than 170,000 birds in four provinces since October and closed some live poultry markets after people and chickens were infected by strains of the avian flu. This comes as South Korea and Japan battle their own major outbreaks. The current outbreaks appear isolated. The virus is likely to strike in winter and spring, and farmers have in recent years ramped up measures such as cleaning regimes to prevent the disease.

Widespread infection can lead to severe health risks and big financial losses.

The last major outbreak in China killed 36 people and caused more than $6 billion in losses for the agricultural sector. China is the world's no. 3 producer of broiler chickens and the second-biggest poultry consumer.