Two new cases of H7N9 pop up in Guangdong

Two new cases of H7N9 bird flu infections in humans have been reported in South China's Guangdong province, the provincial health authorities said on Monday.

The two separate cases were reported by the Nanhai district of Foshan. The Nanhai district government closed live-bird markets in the district from Monday through Tuesday.

Of the two human cases in Foshan, a 46-year-old driver who raises live-birds at his home fell ill on Jan 6 and is critically ill. In the other case, a 28-year-old salesperson of birds fell ill on Jan 8 and is in stable condition.

As of Monday, 16 cases of H7N9 bird flu infections in humans have been reported in Guangdong province since the first reported case in Huizhou in August. One person has died in Dongguan and two patients are no longer showing signs of an infection.

Foshan has reported the most cases of infections in humans at six. Shenzhen and Yangjiang have both reported three cases. Two were reported in Dongguan. Guangzhou and Huizhou have each reported one case.