China confirms 96 H7N9 cases, 18 deaths

BEIJING - During the 24-hour period ending at 4 pm on Saturday, China confirmed five new cases of human H7N9 avian influenza, including one in Shanghai, 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 96 H7N9 cases have been reported in China, including 18 that have ended in death.

Of the total, nine H7N9 patients have been discharged from hospitals after receiving treatment, and the other 69 patients are being treated in designated hospitals, according to the commission.

A total of 33 cases, including 11 that have ended in death, have been reported in Shanghai. Twenty-three cases, including three deaths, have been reported in Jiangsu Province, and 33 cases, including three 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.