China Confirms Additional Human Bird Flu Infection H5N1

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 31 Dec 2005 - 6:00 PDT

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Chinese authorities have confirmed that a woman, 41, died of bird flu infection (H5N1 strain) on December 21. She was from Fujian, South East China. On December 6th she developed a fever and pneumonia and was taken to hospital on December 8th.

Initially, lab tests seemed to show she did not have avian flu virus strain H5N1 infection. However, subsequent tests, carried out on December 23rd, which included PCR tests, gave positive results. The latter tests were done at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control, Beijing. The virus was isolated from the patient.

The deceased woman's relatives and people who have been in close contact with her are under medical observation - authorities say none of them have displayed any symptoms of bird flu.

The H5N1 bird flu virus strain has not been found among poultry near to where the woman lived and worked. Authorities say they cannot confirm whether she had any direct contact with live birds before she became ill. Experts from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture are still investigating.

This is the seventh officially confirmed case of a human becoming infected with bird flu, H5N1 virus strain - three have died.

The following provinces (in China) have reported humans becoming infected with avian flu (H5N1):

- Anhui
- Fujian
- Guangxi
- Hunan
- Jiangxi
- Liaoning

(Bird Flu = Avian Flu)

The H5N1 virus strain of bird flu is the most virulent one (virulent = powerful, potent, dangerous)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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