Two new cases of avian flu in Guangdong Province bring the total to three since a trial ban on provincial live poultry markets was first initiated at the beginning of May.

The two cases of avian flu were confirmed by the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission on their official website on May 17.

The report stated a positive confirmation for the H7N9 virus was made on May 15 on an 86 year-old patient surnamed Liu, originally from Meizhou, who currently lives in Pingyuan County, Meizhou.

Another patient, a 37 year-old man from Zhongshan surnamed Wu, was positively identified with the virus on May 16.

Both patients are hospitalized and are in serious condition.

The third case of avian flu to strike since the pilot program to ban live poultry markets was initiated is a 50 year-old Zhongshan man surnamed Liang who was positively diagnosed with the H7N9 virus on May 9.

A total of seven cases of avian flu were reported on May 1 and all throughout April in Guangdong Province.

The poultry ban replaces the closure of live poultry markets with a supply of chickens that are slaughtered and processed at a centralized location before being frozen and shipped out to markets for consumption.

The Guangzhou pilot program of the ban that began at the beginning of May initially encountered resistance from locals.

A survey revealed 38 percent of Guangzhou residents are not in favor of closing the live poultry markets, while 66 percent of residents believe that frozen chicken will compromise the taste and flavor of cooked chicken dishes.

Photo: forum.china