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Three Chinese people have died of the H7N9 bird flu, the state news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday, adding to a spike in cases this year.
Two men, aged 76 and 52, died in southern Guangdong province on Monday, while a third patient passed away in eastern Jiangsu province on Saturday, Xinhua said in separate reports, citing provincial health authorities.
Two new cases were also reported – a four-year-old girl in Guangdong in stable condition, and a 59-year-old woman in Jiangsu in critical condition.
So far this year China has confirmed 115 human H7N9 cases, including 25 deaths, according to a tally of reports by local authorities.
By comparison last year there were 144 infections and 46 deaths, according to official figures.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said last week that the rise in cases this year was not surprising due to seasonal factors, rather than a virus mutation.
The same week Hong Kong was forced to cull up to 20,000 chickens after finding H7N9 present in poultry imported from mainland China, days before the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Mainland China’s H7N9 outbreak among humans began in February last year, triggering concerns that the virus could mutate to become easily transmissible among people, potentially triggering a pandemic.
Both Chinese authorities and the WHO have said there has been no evidence so far of sustained human-to-human transmission.
But limited spread – such as among relatives who have been in close contact – is possible. Last week a couple and their daughter contracted the H7N9 bird flu eastern Zhejiang, China’s worst-hit province, Xinhua reported at the time.


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H7N9 virus

China reports three new H7N9 bird flu deaths, toll hits 25

Health officials cull ducks in Zhuji, Zhejiang province. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong culled up to 20,000 chickens in January after finding H7N9 present in poultry imported from mainland China. Photo: Felix Wong

China to help poultry farmers hit with 20b yuan losses over bird flu

A farm worker collects eggs from a chicken coop in Jiangsu province. Photo: Bloomberg

Family cluster of bird flu cases brings China’s total H7N9 infections to 110

A bird flu cull in Hong Kong. China now has 100 confirmed cases. Photo: Felix Wong

A bird flu cull in Hong Kong. China now has 100 confirmed cases. Photo: Xinhua

China halts poultry trading after new H7N9 bird flu cases

Authorities in eastern China have banned live poultry sales after an increase in the number of people infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu. Photo: AP

Beijing ‘downgrades’ H7N9 bird flu description as new cases spike

China has reportedly downgraded H7N9 bird flu in humans, dropping its description as 'infectious' in new guidelines on how to deal with the disease. Photo: AP

H7N9 bird flu strain is at peak: Chinese official

Health officials transport sacks of poultry as part of preventive measures against the H7N9 bird flu at a poultry market in Zhuji. A senior Chinese disease control official warned the H7N9 strain of bird flu had peaked again since last December. Photo: Reuters

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