HEFEI - Health authorities in East China's Anhui province on Monday reported the death of a man who had contracted H7N9 bird flu.

Surnamed Chen, aged 56, the man was a native of Linquan County.

He died on Friday before it was confirmed that he had the virus on Sunday, said a statement issued by the provincial health department.

China has reported more than 120 human H7N9 cases this year, including at least 27 deaths, with provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong worst affected.