The new bird flu strain, known as H7N9, was first reported by Chinese authorities in March. As of the end of May, there were 132 cases and 37 deaths in China and Taiwan linked to the virus.
Health officials suspect patients were most likely infected by birds in live animal markets but acknowledged there were probably sporadic cases of the virus spreading among humans.
In the new study, Chinese researchers interviewed the family and close friends of a father and daughter both killed by H7N9 in eastern China to figure out how the virus might have spread between them. Full story
