Man in custody for spreading H7N9 rumor

A man from north China's Shanxi province was taken into police custody after he spread rumors about H7N9 bird flu on the Internet, local authorities announced on Monday.

The man, surnamed Zhang, from Xinzhou city posted rumors via the Internet and messaging app WeChat on Jan 23 saying that a local medical worker had died of H7N9 avian flu. The post was spread widely among netizens.

The post was proved to be rumor by local health authorities.

The man was tracked by his screen name "wujuwushu" and was summoned by local police on Jan. 26.

He faces a detention of 10 days for spreading rumors and disturbing public order, and he will be fined 500 yuan (82.65 US dollars), according to local police.

Shanxi province has not reported any human H7N9 cases so far this year.