Shanghai doctor dies from H7N9 bird flu

Two H7N9 avian flu patients, including a medical worker, have died in Shanghai, local health authorities said.

A 31-year old male medical worker surnamed Zhang died at around 4 am Saturday, while a 77-year-old male farmer died at midnight the same day, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning. Both tested positive for the H7N9 virus, Xinhua reports.

Late Monday, the commission published more details about the case of the doctor in a separate statement, saying none of the people who had close contacts with him, including his colleagues and patients who he treated, have shown any flu symptoms like fever and coughing.

An initial investigation showed that Zhang stayed at his parents' home on the night of January 4 and the neighbor kept pigeons at home; there is a live poultry market across a street from the hospital in the Pudong New Area where he worked; he had no close contacts with flu patients in the 10 days before he fell ill.

The agency also warned local residents to stay away from live poultry and to maintain good hygiene habits as close exposure to live poultry carries high infection risks. Shanghai has confirmed seven human H7N9 cases so far this year.