China confirms new human cases of H7N9 bird flu

Shanghai and Hong Kong health authorities on Friday both confirmed a new case of human infection by the H7N9 strain of avian influenza.

Hong Kong confirmed its second case this season days after an elderly man died of the virus while Shanghai's health authority said that a man diagnosed with the flu strain H7N9 is being treated in a hospital, reported the Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua.

Shanghai which is China's largest city by population, with more than 24 million people has earlier this month reported one human case of H7N9 infection.
 

Bird flu was first reported in humans in Hong Kong in 1997, when six people died, and subsequent outbreaks have killed hundreds worldwide.

Bird flu is most likely to strike in winter and spring.

Reuters