Two more H7N9 cases in S China

GUANGZHOU - Two more cases of H7N9 bird flu virus infection in humans have been reported in two cities in South China's Guangdong province, local health authorities said on Thursday.

A 39-year-old man who lives in Foshan city was confirmed to have been infected with the virus on Tuesday. He is in stable condition and being treated in a hospital in the provincial capital of Guangzhou.

A 75-year-old man died of organ failure on Saturday in Guangzhou. A test conducted on Monday found the man had been infected with the virus.

Health authorities also said three infected patients were discharged from the hospital at the end of February, while another died on Sunday.

Provincial authorities on Tuesday also received reports from Hong Kong that a female infant infected with the virus had previously lived in the Shunde District of Foshan. People that had contact with the girl in the district have been put on medical watch.

Across the country, the H7N9 strain of bird flu has infected more than 120 people and killed at least 36 of them so far this year.