New human case of bird flu found in Fujian
By Zhao Huanxin and Cecilia Lo (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-09 05:30

The Ministry of Health last night announced another human infection of the bird flu, bringing the total number of reported cases to 11.

The latest case was a 26-year-old female farmer in Zhangpu County, East China's Fujian Province. She fell ill on January 10, showing symptoms of fever and pneumonia. Her samples later tested positive for H5N1 virus at China Disease Prevention and Control Centre.

A chicken is kept in a cage at a poultry market in Shanghai February 8, 2006. [Reuters]

The ministry has already reported the case to the World Health Organization, Hong Kong and Macao health authorities and some neighbouring countries.

The most recent case before this one was reported on January 23. Six of the 11 human cases have died.

Health workers did not find any evidence of the bird flu epidemic in the area where the Fujian woman lived, the ministry said.

Earlier, China confirmed the first outbreak of bird flu in nearly a month, which killed about 15,000 poultry in North China's Shanxi Province.

The Ministry of Agriculture said late on Tuesday night that the virulent H5N1 strain was discovered at a farm in Yijing Town of Yangquan city on February 2 and 3.

The outbreak has been brought under control after local authorities implemented contingency plans, the ministry said.

Veterinary workers would have vaccinated all poultry near the site of the outbreak by today, local officials said yesterday.