53 H7N9 human cases reported in Guangdong

The number of H7N9 human cases in south China's Guangdong Province has climbed to 53, with one new case reported, local health authorities said on Friday.

A 78-year-old man from Meixian District in Meizhou City was diagnosed with the disease on Thursday. Despite medical attention, he died the same day, the provincial health and family planning commission said in a press release.

H7N9 is a bird flu strain first reported to have infected humans in March 2013. It is most likely to strike in winter and spring.

H7N9 human cases have been reported in 15 of Guangdong's 21 prefecture-level cities and have resulted in 13 deaths.

To prevent the epidemic from spreading fast, the provincial government has banned live poultry trade at all markets from Feb. 19 to 28, the first 10 days of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Human cases of H7N9 have been reported this winter in several other Chinese localities including Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Zhejiang.