China reports 5 new H7N9 cases, 33 total

BEIJING - During the 24-hour period ending 5 pm on Wednesday, China has confirmed five new cases of H7N9 avian influenza, with two each in east China's Shanghai and Jiangsu province, and one in neighboring Zhejiang province.

In a daily update on H7N9 cases across China, the National Health and Family Planning Commission also said one child patient, who had been a confirmed H7N9 case, was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.

China officially confirmed the occurrence of human infection with the H7N9 virus late last month.

So far, the country has reported a total of 33 H7N9 cases, including nine which ended in fatalities.

A total of 15 cases, including five ending in fatalities, have been reported in Shanghai. Ten cases, including one death, have been reported in Jiangsu, and two cases, including one death, in Anhui. Six cases have been reported in Zhejiang, with two deaths.

No epidemiological link between those cases has been identified to date, the agency said, adding that those who have had close contact with people infected by H7N9 have been placed under medical observation.

It said the country's confirmed H7N9 cases were isolated and there has been no sign of human-to-human transmission.