NANNING -- A woman infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has died.

The patient, a 41-year-old woman with the surname Li, died around 8 am Sunday in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, the regional Health and Family Planning Commission said.

According to the commission, Li, who worked as a live poultry saleswoman, had complained of a fever and cough on Feb 11. She was hospitalized on Feb 16 and tests on Saturday confirmed she had contracted the disease.

None of those who had close contact with the woman have shown signs of infection. The commission has taken measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

H7N9 was first reported to have infected humans in China in March 2013. Infections are most likely in winter and spring.