China confirms fifth human case of bird flu

A farmer in north-east China has tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the government said today, making her the country’s fifth confirmed human case of the disease.

The 31-year-old woman, surnamed Liu, was taken ill on October 30 in Heishan County in Liaoning province, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

She suffered a fever and pneumonia-like symptoms and developed breathing problems after she was admitted to hospital, Xinhua said.