New strain of bird flu claims 2 victims

Two men have died in the Chinese city of Shanghai, after contracting a strain of bird flu not previously known in humans, Chinese officials say.

The men, aged 27 and 87, both fell ill with the H7N9 strain in February and died some weeks later in March, Xinhua news agency reported.

A woman, 35, who caught the virus elsewhere is said to be critically ill.

It is not known how the strain spread, but the three did not infect each other or any close contacts, officials say.