China's bird flu crisis showed no sign of easing Tuesday as the death toll rose to nine, a government agency said. The National Health and Family Planning Commission announced two more fatalities Tuesday afternoon -- one in Anhui province and the other in Jiangsu province. These are the first bird flu-related deaths reported this year in those two provinces. Five deaths -- and just less than half of the 28 confirmed infections nationwide -- have been in Shanghai, according to the Chinese commission. The virus had been found in pigeons but had not previously been discovered in humans until a series of cases were reported in China last week. In Shanghai, more than 100,000 live birds have been killed in the past week at live-poultry markets across the city in an effort to contain the problem, the Shanghai Municipal Ministry of Agriculture said. A number of cities across China have also announced trading suspensions. During a news conference in Beijing on Monday, World Health Organization and Chinese health ministry officials tried to reassure the public about the outbreak, saying they would continue to jointly monitor the behavior of the virus. "Although we do not know the source of the infection, at this time there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission," said the WHO's Michael O'Leary. The Chinese health agency also said Tuesday that there are no reported cases of human-to-human transmission. Liang Wannian, director of the H7N9 influenza prevention and control office under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, told reporters that 621 close contacts of infected patients had been monitored with no reported abnormalities. Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong called for further efforts to prevent the spread of H7N9 infections and the treatment of patients after visiting the country's disease control center on Monday, Xinhua reported. She also urged more transparency in information about the virus and said any new infection should be discovered, reported, diagnosed and treated as early as possible. She added that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang were paying close attention to the crisis. In 2003, during the SARS outbreak, Chinese authorities were accused of acting slowly and concealing the extent of the problem in an effort to ease fears about the spread of the epidemic. CNN's Ke Feng in Beijing contributed to this report.

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NEW: Two bird flu deaths occur in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, a government agency says. NEW: There are 28 infections nationwide, but no human-to-human transmission, it adds. China's vice premier urges more transparency in information about virus.

Elderly residents at a sheltered housing block have been banned from drinking alcohol in communal areas following complaints by tenants about rowdy and 'intimidating' behaviour. Residents in their 80s and 90s were said to be so frightened by the actions of two tenants that staff called in 24-hour security to keep the peace over Christmas. Now the guards have gone but residents can no longer drink in shared areas following a row that began in the communal room as some of the pensioners put up their Christmas tree in early December. Alchohol is banned from communal areas at Birch Grove sheltered housing in Jarrow, South Tyneside. A spokesman for South Tyneside Homes, which runs the housing complex, said the complaints centered on two residents at the Birch Grove sheltered housing complex in Jarrow, South Tyneside. He said: 'The consumption of alcohol is still banned in communal areas at Birch Grove.' But he said that the security guard who was brought in last December to deter anyone at the accommodation from misbehaving had been stood down earlier this month. One carer who helps a pensioner at the block said residents blamed a couple of 'problem tenants' whose antisocial behaviour was upsetting the peaceful majority of retirees. An insider at the accommodation block, who did not want to be named, said: 'It is appalling to need a security guard for people in their 80s and 90s, just to protect them from other residents. 'And the cost must have been enormous. To have someone there 24 hours a day, it must be thousands of pounds. 'It was the only sheltered housing block in the borough with this measure in place.' South Tyneside Homes, which runs Birch Grove, above, says they are looking into the residents' complaints. The 33-flat block caters for over-60s in independent flats, with a communal sitting room and kitchen. Another source said: 'They brought in the security guard 24 hours a day at first. Then he was scaled down to be there between 4pm and midnight in case anything happened, and now he has gone. 'But people are still fearful.  No one wants to use the communal areas because they are scared they will be subjected to abuse and intimidation. 'There are no group activities. With these dark winter nights, everyone is in by 5pm, but then it's lockdown. Everyone just goes to their own rooms all night. 'Some people are in their 80s and 90s and are not strong enough to stand up for themselves. 'And there were no New Year's Eve parties for Birch Grove because booze has been banned in communal areas. 'Residents couldn't have a drink to celebrate the festive season. 'People in other sheltered blocks were up until 1am celebrating, but at Birch Grove they were all in bed by 9.30pm.' A number of Birch Grove residents complained to South Tyneside Homes, which manages the block. John Musson, director of housing for South Tyneside Homes, said: 'We do not tolerate antisocial behaviour in any form and always encourage our tenants to report any cases of abusive, threatening or intimidating behaviour to us so that we can take appropriate action. 'We are investigating allegations of antisocial behaviour at Birch Grove Housing Plus Scheme in Jarrow following a number of complaints from tenants. 'We are working closely with tenants and their families and have agreed to put a number of temporary measures in place to provide reassurance while we resolve this matter.'

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Trouble began at Birch Grove, South Tyneside with row over Christmas tree. Elderly residents intimidated by rowdy behaviour of two tenants. Managers called in 24-hour security guard at first to calm atmosphere. Now the guard's gone but residents are still said to be fearful.