December 23, 2013
Number of H7N9 human cases rises to six in China's Guangdong province
Shenzhen's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first human case of H7N9 bird flu in the city on December 19, adding the total number of infected people in Guangdong province to six since August.
A 38-year-old man, who lives and works near one of the infected poultry markets in Longgang district of Shenzhen, was in critical condition, reported South China Morning Post.
Including this newest case, authorities said that three patients had visited the Longgang district, where the H7N9 virus was found on December 11. Director of Shenzhen's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheng Jinquan said, "The 39-year-old Dongguan patient commuted to work in the Ganlan area in Longgang district in Shenzhen. The Hong Kong domestic helper from Indonesia also travelled to Shenzhen in late November."
However, the source of infection has not been determined. "There's no further evidence to prove they got infected in Shenzhen because both are still in a coma and could not give information," Cheng added.