New H7N9 patient in critial condition in Beijing

BEIJING -- A woman from north China's Hebei Province Saturday became the latest confirmed case of the H7N9 strain of bird flu, said health authorities in Beijing.

The 61-year-old from the city of Langfang, Hebei, developed symptoms including cough and fever on July 10 and was diagnosed as suffering from severe pneumonia four days later, the Beijing municipal health bureau said in a statement.

Her condition did not turn better after treatment and she was therefore transferred to an intensive care unit in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital on Thursday.

She was confirmed positive of the deadly H7N9 bird flu strain on Saturday and is currently under emergency treatment.

Before developing the illness, the woman often bought vegetables from a local farm produce market near her home where live poultry are sold, the statement said.

Nine family members who have had close contacts with her have not shown any flu symptoms.

Earlier 132 human cases of H7N9 avian flu were reported on the Chinese mainland, including 43 that have ended in death, after the virus was first discovered in March, according to updates released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on July 10.