China confirms 91 H7N9 cases, 17 deaths

BEIJING - During the 24-hour period ending at 5 pm on Friday, China confirmed four new cases of human H7N9 avian influenza, including one in Jiangsu and three in Zhejiang.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said in its daily update on H7N9 cases that a total of 91 H7N9 cases have been reported in China, including 17 that have ended in death.

Of the total, seven H7N9 patients have been discharged from hospitals after receiving treatment, and the other 67 patients are being treated in designated hospitals, according to the commission.

A total of 32 cases, including 11 that have ended in death, have been reported in Shanghai. Twenty-two cases, including three deaths, have been reported in Jiangsu province, and 30 cases, including two deaths, in Zhejiang province. Anhui province has reported three cases, with one ending in death. Beijing has reported one case and three have been reported in Henan province.

China officially confirmed the occurrence of humans infected with the H7N9 virus late last month.

According to the commission, China's confirmed H7N9 cases are isolated and there has been no sign of human-to-human transmission.