Another H7N9 infection has been confirmed in east China's Anhui Province, local authorities said Sunday night, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in China to 21.

The patient, a 55-year-old male working in the live poultry trade, began exhibiting flu symptoms on March 28 and was taken to a hospital in Bozhou City on April 1 after his condition worsened, according to a statement from the Anhui Provincial Health Department.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention diagnosed the patient, surnamed Li, positive of the H7N9 avian influenza virus on Sunday.

Li is currently in stable condition, according to the statement.

Twelve others who have had close contact with the patient have not shown any signs of infection so far, the statement said.

Before Li's case of H7N9 was confirmed, Chinese health authorities reported that there were a total of 20 H7N9 cases across the country as of 5 p.m. Sunday, including six cases that have ended in fatalities.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a statement that as of 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 H7N9 cases, including four that have ended in death, had been reported in Shanghai, and three cases, including two that ended in death, had been reported in east China's Zhejiang Province. Jiangsu Province had reported six cases and Anhui Province had reported one.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2013)