Two more H7N9 bird flu cases linked to Shenzhen's Longgang district

Three patients who have contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu had visited the Longgang district of Shenzhen, including the latest case announced yesterday, mainland health authorities said.

A 38-year-old Shenzhen man was in critical condition after being diagnosed with the deadly strain of the flu, Shenzhen's centre for disease control and prevention said.

The patient is a migrant worker who lives and works in Nanwan Street, in Longgang district, near one of the infected markets where authorities found the H7N9 virus on December 11.

A second patient, a 39-year-old man from Dongguan, commuted to the district. The pair follow Tri Mawarti, a domestic helper who was the first person in Hong Kong diagnosed with the virus. She is believed to have handled a live chicken at a flat in Nanwan Street before falling ill.

Four people have been confirmed as having contracted the H7N9 virus in Guangdong in five days. The province has confirmed six cases since August; two in Dongguan , two in Yangjiang , one in Huizhou and yesterday's case.

Cheng Jinquan, the centre's director, said at a news conference that the second patient from Dongguan and the Hong Kong patient had been to Longgang district before falling ill.