Avian influenza – situation in China – update 4

13 February 2006

The Ministry of Health in China has reported the country’s 12th laboratory confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The case occurred in a 20-year-old female farmer from the south-central province of Hunan. She developed symptoms on 27 January and was subsequently hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Symptom onset followed the culling of poultry raised by her household. She died on 4 February.

To date, China has reported 12 laboratory-confirmed cases. Of these, eight have been fatal.