China has reported to more human infections involving H9N2 avian influenza, which involve children from two different provinces, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said in its latest weekly avian influenza update.

The patients include a 1-year-old girl from the city of Chongqing whose symptoms began on December 13, 2024, and an 8-year-old girl from Hubei province who got sick on November 27, 2024. The report did not say how the patients were exposed, but H9N2 infections are typically reported in people who have contact with poultry or poultry environments.

H9N2 is known to circulate in poultry across parts of Asia, with sporadic infections reported in people. Infections are typically mild, with most infections reported children. The new cases raise the number of H9N2 infections in China for 2024 to 17.

The CHP report also noted another H10N3 infection from the mainland. The patient is a 23-year-old woman from Guangxi province in southern China. Her symptoms began on December 12, 2024. The report didn't note her exposure to the virus, or her current condition.

The woman's illness appears to mark China's fourth H10N3 case over the past few years. All cases had severe infections.