HANGZHOU, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- A new human H7N9 bird flu case was reported on Wednesday in east China´s Zhejiang Province, the second in China this autumn, according to the provincial health authority.

The patient, identified by his sirname as Chen, 67, tested positive for the virus at the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said a statement by the authority.

A farmer from the city of Jiaxing, Chen first showed flu symptoms on Oct. 16. He is now in a serious condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital.

His is the second H7N9 case in China this month. The first, reported on Oct. 15, was also in Zhejiang. The patient, a 35-year-old man from Shaoxing county, remains in a critical condition.

H7N9 bird flu cases in China reached 134 by the end of August, with 45 fatalities, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

No new cases were reported on the Chinese mainland in September.