Woman dies of bird flu in China

Jinan (China), Jan 19 (Xinhua) A woman has died of bird flu in east China's Shandong province, the second death caused by avian influenza in the country this year, an official has said.

The 27-year-old woman surnamed Zhang, who lived here, fell ill Jan 5 and went to hospital when her condition worsened, said an official of the provincial health department.

She died Saturday evening.

The national disease prevention and control centre Sunday confirmed that she was infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

People who came in contact with Zhang have been kept under observation, but no one was found to be infected.

The new case had been reported to the World Health Organisation.

A 19-year-old woman bird flu patient named Huang Yanqing died in Beijing Jan 5.

In the neighbouring Shanxi Province, a two-year-old girl surnamed Peng was confirmed to be infected with the same virus Saturday.

She is in critical condition, local health officials said Sunday.

The 67 people who had close contact with the girl have been under kept observation. One was found to be infected.