Ten human H7N9 bird flu cases were newly reported in China on Friday, including one in Beijing, one in Guangdong province, one in Fujian province and seven in Zhejiang province, forcing cities in Zhejiang to close their live poultry markets.

In the first case reported in the city this year, a man in Beijing was confirmed to have contracted H7N9 on Thursday night, according to the Chinese capital's disease control and prevention center.

He is receiving treatment at Ditan Hospital. The center said the patient had bought pigeons and ate them before being admitted to the hospital.

The health and family planning committee of south China's Guangdong province likewise reported on Friday that a 34-year-old woman in Shenzhen city had contracted the virus. She is also in a critical condition.

The health authorities in Guangdong's neighboring province of Fujian also announced that a 46-year-old female villager in Hui'an county was Friday confirmed to have been sicken by the H7N9 virus, bringing the total infections in the province to eight.

The patient is under treatment at a local hospital and is in a critical condition.