East China's Zhejiang Province ended its level-IV emergency response to the H7N9 bird flu outbreak after no new human infections had been reported there in the past 28 consecutive days.

Medical observations on all those who had close contact with the H7N9-infected people in Zhejiang have ended, and there have been no further infections, said a statement from the seventh meeting of the Zhejiang provincial prevention and control mechanism for human infections of H7N9, which was held on Thursday.

The virus has not been detected among live poultry or in relevant environments over the past three weeks in Zhejiang, the statement added. The province will continue to closely monitor H7N9.

As of Thursday, a total of 46 human cases of the new strain of avian influenza had been confirmed in Zhejiang. Nine infected people died, 27 recovered and 10 are still being treated in hospitals.

Shanghai, which neighbors Zhejiang, ended its H7N9 emergency response mechanism on May 10, after no new infections were reported in the metropolis over a 20-day period.

As of May 11, Shanghai had reported a total of 33 human cases of H7N9. Fifteen patients recovered, 14 died despite doctors' efforts and four remain in hospitals.

As of May 13, the Chinese mainland had reported a total 130 confirmed H7N9 cases. Thirty-five of these cases ended in death, while 57 patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2013)