Avian influenza – situation in China – update 11

27 April 2006

The Ministry of Health in China has reported the country’s 18th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The patient is an 8-year-old girl from the south-western province of Sichuan. She developed symptoms of fever and pneumonia on 16 April. She remains hospitalized.

According to the Ministry of Health, an initial investigation determined that poultry deaths recently occurred near the child’s home.

Of the 18 laboratory-confirmed cases in China, 12 have been fatal.