China discovers new bird flu mutation

China has discovered a new mutation of the H7N9 bird flu virus, which is being considered the deadliest till now, news agency Xinhua reports.

The new strain is more dangerous to poultry but poses no new threats to humans, the report added.

It "does not make the virus more infectious to humans at the moment," according to the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The centre alerted the World Health Organisation to the new development, after it confirmed the new strain that was found in four poultry samples from China's southern region.

The new strain was also discovered in January in two people, who were infected by the virus in the Guandong province.

The centre added that Chinese health and agricultural authorities will continue studying the new strain's source and impact.