The Guangdong provincial government announced on Sunday it has set up a fund to help H7N9 patients in financial difficulties, although no human infection has been reported in the province.

Lin Shaochun, vice-governor of Guangdong, said all preparations will be conducted properly and there will be no delays in, or denials of, treatment for patients who have failed to pay medical bills. Lin was speaking at a conference on H7N9 avian flu prevention and control on Saturday.

The fund is meant to help H7N9 patients with financial difficulties, such as low-income people without medical insurance and migrant workers unable to pay for medical treatment.