Taiwan confirms first human H7N9 bird flu infection

TAIPEI -- Taiwan health authorities confirmed the island's first human infection of H7N9 avian flu today.

A 53-year-old Taiwanese man was confirmed to be infected with the new type of bird flu virus, said a statement from the island's disease control authority.

The patient is believed to have been infected outside Taiwan as he showed symptoms three days after returning from Suzhou City in Jiangsu Province, the statement said.

The patient, who is Hepatitis-B-positive and suffers from high blood pressure, is in a serious condition, the statement said.

A total of 139 people who have had close contact with him are being monitored, it said.

Taiwan health authorities informed the mainland's counterpart earlier on Wednesday, the statement said.