Beijing reports new H7N9 case

BEIJING - Beijing health authorities confirmed on Wednesday that a rural resident is being treated for human H7N9 infection in the capital.

The patient, identified by her surname Chen, is a 68 years old farmer from Langfang City in Hebei Province. She was transferred to Beijing after her symptoms worsened while being treated in Hebei, Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said in a statement.

Chen had no recent contact with diseased poultry, it said.

H7N9 was first reported to have infected humans in March 2013 in China. Cases usually occur in winter and spring. While a large-scale outbreak is unlikely, sporadic infections have been reported.

Two other H7N9 patients, one of whom is also from Langfang, are being treated in neighboring Tianjin Municipality. The other patient is from Tianjin's Binhai New Area, according to Tianjin Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission.

The two patients were hospitalized in Tianjin after developing serious pneumonia, both had been in contact with diseased poultry.