According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the H7N9 cases have shown a growing trend in some regions of China since December. The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) pays great attention to H7N9 and has been taking a series of measures to prevent it since the cases emerged.

By the end of 2016, the NHFPC dispatched supervision groups to inspect key provinces' work in prevention and control. Top health authorities held a video conference on January 4 on the prevention and control of infectious diseases during winter and spring. The NHFPC also held a conference on live poultry market management with officials from Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, China Food and Drug Administration and the State Forestry Administration. 

The NHFPC released a notice on H7N9 prevention and control, instructing local health departments to monitor flu cases and pneumonia cases. It urged CDC to strengthen risk assessment, providing scientific bases for the epidemic prevention and control. The NHFPC further asked local governments to publicize the information about H7N9 to the public, raising their awareness of self-protection.

In winter and spring, people are more vulnerable to respiratory infectious disease. Medical experts advise that people should avoid contact with dead poultry, and avoid direct contact with live poultry, birds or their excrement as far as possible.

If contact has been made people should wash their hands as soon as possible. Furthermore, customers should only buy poultry products labeled with a quarantine certificate, and products should be fully cooked throughout before they are eaten.

Experts also encourage people to strengthen their bodies to better fight infection during the colder months through physical exercise, and warned that signs of a fever or respiratory symptoms should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.