CHANGSHA, March 17 -- Central China's Hunan Province recorded five human infections of H7N9 bird flu over the past week, including two deaths, local health authorities said on Friday.

Live poultry trading will cease for three weeks in Changsha, the provincial capital, over concerns about the virus. All poultry markets have been ordered cleaned and disinfected.

A total of 24 infections and five fatalities were reported in Hunan Province in February.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, 79 people died nationwide in January from the virus.

H7N9 is a bird flu strain first reported to have infected humans in China in March 2013. Infections are most likely occur in winter and spring.