The possibility of catching the H7N9 virus in Hebei province has hit a new low, even though a close watch is being kept on new outbreaks of pneumonia and influenza, provincial health authorities have said.

A total of 16 possible cases were ruled negative after tests for the H7N9 virus were done at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, on Wednesday.

New virus samples from suspicious cases were sent to 11 city labs in the past week for immediately checks, to halt any possible outbreak at the earliest time. All of the province’s 28 influenza surveillance hospitals have started tests of influenza samples and the province’s 12 Influenza surveillance labs have the ability to detect the virus quickly. This response system has been improved and makes sure that officials are on duty 24 hours a day. Any case of H7N9 infection will be reported to supervisors immediately. Some experts have recommended traditional Chinese remedies such as mulberry leaves and honeysuckle for preventing the virus.