China reports two new human H7N9 cases

Health authorities in south China's Guangdong Province on Saturday reported two more human cases of H7N9 bird flu infection.

A 37-year-old man surnamed Wu, a native of Zhongshan City, was confirmed to have been infected with H7N9 virus on Friday, said a statement issued by the provincial health and family planning commission.

Another case was reported in the city of Meizhou, where a 86-year-old man was confirmed to have contracted the virus on Thursday, the statement said.

Both of the patients are in critical condition.

H7N9 bird flu was first reported in China in March 2013. The virus causes severe disease in humans, including acute and often lethal respiratory failure. The country has reported more than 200 human H7N9 cases.