Confirmed H7N9 cases up by 3

They are all in Shanghai.

According to a report, the Centre for Health Protection has learned of three more confirmed human cases of Influenza A (H7N9), all in Shanghai.

The National Health & Family Planning Commission notified the centre tonight that the cases involved two women, aged 67 and 52, and a four-year-old boy. The younger woman died yesterday; the older one is in critical condition. The boy is in satisfactory condition.

All three tested positive for H7N9.

The commission said no epidemiological links were identified between the three cases.

So far, except for a close contact of the 52-year-old woman who developed fever and a runny nose, no abnormality was detected among the other 51 close contacts of the three cases.

To date, there have been 14 confirmed cases of this bird flu strain in humans on the Mainland; six of them have died.

The centre has heightened its vigilance and continues to maintain stringent port health measures. Travellers from Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang with respiratory symptoms are advised to wear masks and seek medical attention and tell doctors about their travel history.

Healthcare professionals are also advised to be on the alert for travellers from the four regions who might have had contact with birds or poultry.