Taiwan poultry stalls on Thursday (April 25) said businesses had been hit by worries about the H7N9 bird flu strain spreading to the country from mainland China.

Taiwan's Health Department said on Wednesday that a 53-year-old Taiwan businessman had contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while travelling in China, the first reported case outside mainland China.

The man was hospitalised when he became ill three days after returning from Suzhou on April 9, authorities said, adding that the patient was diagnosed with the H7N9 virus and was in serious condition.

The Taiwanese government said it would take appropriate measures, including opening a special out-patient clinic for H7N9 cases.

Taiwan and China have growing business and economic ties and many business people frequently travel across the straits.

As of Tuesday (April 23), 108 people had contracted the disease on the Chinese mainland since the first deaths were reported last month.

Presented by Adam Justice