China has confirmed three H7N9 avian flu cases, with two deaths reported, the first known human deaths from this strain of influenza virus.     

Of the three cases, two casualties are from Shanghai, while one patient from east China's Anhui Province is in critical condition, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission Sunday.     

The two Shanghainese, both male, are known as Li, 87, and Wu, 27.     

Li who was diagnosed with H7N9 avian influenza virus infection on Feb 19, died on March 4, while Wu was also tested positive for H7N9 and died on March 10.     

Han, 35, the female infected patient from Anhui is in critical condition and under antiviral treatment in a hospital in Nanjing.   

The H7N9 bird flu is considered a low pathogenic strain that cannot easily be contracted by humans. The overwhelming majority of human deaths from bird flu have been caused by the more virulent H5N1.     

The early clinical manifestations of the three patients were fever, cough and other symptoms like respiratory tract infection. It then developed into severe pneumonia and breathing difficulty.     

A working group of experts from Shanghai, Anhui and Jiangsu was directed to  supervise the patients' treatment and investigation for epidemic nature of the analysis and judgement, arrangements for the investigation, prevention and control and preparedness of work.      

To prevent the H7N9 avian flu, the public have been urged to wash their hands frequently and to cover their mouth and nose with tissue or handkerchief while sneezing or coughing to avoid infecting others with the virus.     

They have also been advised not to have direct contact with sick or dead poultry and livestock.     

Currently, there is no vaccine against the H7N9 avian influenza virus.    

- Bernama