China reports 6 new human H7N9 cases

Six new human H7N9 cases were reported on Monday in four provinces in China.

The southeast Fujian province reported two new cases, a 69-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman. The new cases brought the number of infections in the province this year to 10, according to the provincial health and family planning commission.

Two more new cases, a 77-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man, were reported in Guangdong. Three H7N9 patients have been discharged from hospital, according to the Guangdong department of health.

[Related: China goes on high H7N9 bird flu alert]

The central province of Hunan reported one new case, a 58-year-old woman and a 74-year-old woman is in critical condition in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

Human H7N9 cases have also been reported in Zhejiang province, Shanghai and Beijing.

Some poultry markets have been suspended to prevent the spread of infection. Experts warned residents to stay away from live poultry and to maintain good hygiene habits as close exposure to live poultry carries high infection risk.