Chinese health authorities have announced that the new H7N9 strain of avian influenza has claimed three more lives, bringing the death toll to 20.

They also said that ten people were newly confirmed to have been infected with the bird flu virus in Beijing and Jiangsu Province.

A total of 102 confirmed cases have been reported across China.

With fear for the new strain of avian influenza spreading in neighboring countries, China and Taiwan are strengthening cooperation in avian influenza-related research.