Number of bird flu victims in China climbs to 60

Deaths from H7N9 rose to 13 yesterday.

The number of victims stood at 44 on April 13 with 11 deaths as of that date. Health officials in China say they've confirmed 11 new bird flu diagnoses, bringing the number of H7N9 infections to 60.

Xinhua news agency said the virus, which first infected people in Shanghai, has now claimed at least one person in Beijing and two others in the central province of Henan. It has for the first time moved out of eastern China where it was first reported.

Samples of the virus have been shipped to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other research centers where virologists hope to develop tests and vaccines to protect against it.

The World Health Organization, however, said more cases are sure to follow as infected birds come into contact with people. There is no evidence that humans have passed the virus to another person, which is good news, said WHO.

WHO said last week there is no evidence of "ongoing human-to-human transmission."

The outbreak has started to take an economic toll. Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC in China, said last week that sales at its restaurants across China are suffering a sharp drop.