Two people in Shanghai have died after being infected with H7N9 avian influenza while a third person in Anhui is in critical condition with the illness, Chinese authorities reported on Sunday.
These were the first reported cases of H7N9 human infection in the world, according to the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission.
The two cases in Shanghai were two men aged 87 and 27, who passed away on March 4 and 10 respectively. The Anhui case is a 35-year-old female patient.
China News Service reported that all three cases presented early respiratory infection symptoms of fever and cough, and later developed into severe pneumonia and had breathing difficulties.
The 27-year-old man was a butcher and the woman was known to have had contact with poultry before she fell ill.
[杜譯：這位27歲的男性係屠戶，而那位婦女染病前接觸過家禽。]
No link had been found between the three patients and no abnormality was detected among the 88 close contacts of three cases.
There is no vaccine against the virus at the moment.
Influenza H7N9 is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong.
The Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong said it was maintaining close contact with mainland health authorities to obtain more information on the cases.
The centre reminded the public to remain vigilant against avian influenza infection and to avoid direct contact with poultry and birds, and their droppings. If contacts have been made, people should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
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