China confirms second human death from bird flu

China today reported its second confirmed human fatality from bird flu.

The 35-year-old woman, a farmer identified only by the surname Xu, died yesterday after developing a fever and pneumonia-like symptoms following contact with sick and dead poultry, the Health Ministry said.

Tests concluded the woman was positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The woman lived in Xiuning County in Anhui province in eastern China, Xinhua said. It gave no further details.

China’s first confirmed bird flu death was also a woman from Anhui.

A 12-year-old girl in the central province of Hunan, who was recorded as a suspected case, also died. Her body was cremated before tests could confirm whether she had the virus.

The country’s only other confirmed bird flu case was Hunan girl’s nine-year-old brother, who fell ill but recovered.