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Though the worst of the flu season appears to be over stateside, influenza remains a threat. In fact, agencies in China have reported that two new cases of bird flu have cropped up in the country. To make matters even more troubling, it appears that neither of the cases have arisen because of direct contact with poultry. Normally, cases of bird flu are transmitted directly from fowl to the human, but researchers fear a global pandemic spread from person to person.

According to United Press International, the Chinese Health Ministry reported on Sunday that there were two cases of the H5N1 bird flu in the southwestern city of Guiyang. The patients are 21-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man. So far, the health ministry says that they have found no epidemiological connection between the two people, indicating that the flu did not spread from one human carrier to another. However, it still does not explain how either of the patients became ill, since health workers note that neither patient had any direct contact with poultry.

Both of the patients are in critical condition, Newsday reports. The health workers at the hospital are reportedly carrying out the necessary treatments. People who have had close contact with the patients are under close observation, but health officials say that no one else has fallen ill.

Because of the Lunar New Year yesterday, many Chinese people were traveling in close quarters, like buses and trains. That increased proximity to other people can raise the risk of contracting infectious diseases.

The symptoms of H5N1 bird flu, like pneumonia and fever, can be severe.  In the majority of cases, it is fatal because humans have little immune resistance against it.

According to the Agence France Presse, China is considered to be at great risk for a bird flu epidemic because the country has the greatest number of fowl. In addition, in rural areas, people often work with very close contact with poultry.

The H5N1 was first detected in Hong Kong in 1997 and was followed by an outbreak in 1997. Since its first detection, the virus has infected over 600 individuals, and an additional 365 people since the outbreak in 2003.

In addition, the AFP reports that one person in the western Sahara region of Africa has died of swine flu. An additional 11 other fishermen also tested positive for H1N1, but are not considered to be in critical condition.