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Yum's profits hurt by bird flu scare CED Monitoring SHANGHAI-Yum Brands Inc, the biggest foreign fast-food operator in China, said publicity over tainted chicken and the outbreak of bird flu hurt first-quarter earnings and sales in the country, leading to a 26 percent drop in first-quarter profit for the company that operates KFC and Pizza Hut. Yum, which draws half its revenue from China, reported that operating profit in the country plunged 41 percent during the quarter ended March 23. Chairman and CEO David Novak vowed to "stay the course" and proceed with a plan to develop at least 700 new restaurants in China this year. 13