Chinese health authorities have confirmed two new cases of the H7N9 virus in Shanghai and Jiangxi province.

According to the Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, a 59-year-old male patient tested positive on January 1 for avian influenza type A (H7N9) and is currently undergoing medical treatment at a local hospital, according to Xinhua.

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Another H7N9 case was reported in Jiangxi Province on December 31. Health officials confirmed that a 46-year-old man from Ganzhou has contracted the disease. This is the province's first recorded case since May.

Reports indicate that the first reported human case of H7N9 virus in the country was in March 2013. Experts believe the virus usually strikes during winter and spring seasons.

The latest case makes the total number of H7N9 cases detected since 2013 now 665. Last winter, patients tested positive for different bird flu strains in several provinces including Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guizhou.

In December 2015, a different case of H5N6 was also detected in Shenzhen. It is the fourth reported case of H5N6 in the world.

Avian influenza virus mainly comes from birds and poultry animals like chicken and ducks. According to the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection, its symptoms include flu-like signs such as fever, cough, body malaise and sore throat, infection of the eyes and respiratory illnesses. The incubation period for the virus is between 7 and 10 days. Severe forms of the disease can lead to respiratory complications and multi-organ failure or even death.

Since human-to-human transmission is unlikely, people are encouraged to refrain from getting in close contract with poultry (live or dead) and infected birds. Elderly, children and people with severe illness including bronchitis and chest infection are highly susceptible to this disease.

TagsAvian influenza, H7N9 cases, Jiangxi Province