Shanghai reports 1 H7N9 death

SHANGHAI - Shanghai reported one more death from H7N9 bird flu on Friday, while two new cases were confirmed, local health authorities said in a statement.

A 74-year-old man surnamed Zhou, who tested positive for the virus on April 6, died on Thursday night after treatment failed, according to the Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission.

The death has brought the country's total fatalities to the disease to 11, including seven in Shanghai, while infections totalled 40 nationwide.

A 53-year-old man, surnamed Shen, began showing symptoms of fever on April 5 and was diagnosed with pneumonia on April 11. He tested positive for H7N9 on Thursday.

Another man surnamed Duan, 86, also tested positive for the H7N9 virus on Thursday after being diagnosed with pneumonia on April 6.

Both patients are receiving medical treatment. Sixteen people who had close contact with them have not exhibited abnormal symptoms, according to the statement.

So far, Shanghai alone has confirmed 20 cases of infection, accounting for half of the national total.