According to China's National Health and Family Planning Commission on Sunday, three human cases of infection with H7N9 avian influenza have been detected recently in the country.

Two of them, both male patients from Shanghai, have died. The other female patient from east China's Anhui Province is in critical condition and is being treated at hospital.

So far, people that were in close contact with the three affected have shown no abnormal symptons. According to experts, this is the first time the H7N9 virus has been detected in humans. But they also said that there is no indication that this virus can be passed on between humans easily.

(CNTV.cn March 31, 2013)