Chinese health authorities have said that, during the 24-hour period ending 5 p.m. on Monday, China has confirmed four new cases of H7N9 avian influenza, including one death.

This has brought the total number of people infected with the bird flu virus in the country to 24, of whom seven have died, the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced.

The agency said in a brief statement that between 5 p.m. on Sunday and 5 p.m. on Monday, two patients in east China's Jiangsu Province were confirmed to be infected with the H7N9 avian influenza virus, while the neighboring Anhui Province also reported a new case.

In Shanghai, one patient has already died after being newly confirmed as an H7N9 case.

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

A total of 11 cases, including five ending in fatalities, have been reported in Shanghai. Eight have been reported in Jiangsu, and two in Anhui. Three cases have been reported in the eastern Zhejiang Province, 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.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2013)