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Shandong woman dies of avian flu
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
January 19, 2009, Monday
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A 27-YEAR-OLD woman died of bird flu in east China's Shandong Province, the country's second death from the H5N1 virus this month, health authorities said yesterday.
In addition to those cases, earlier in the day, a 2-year-old in Shanxi Province who was exposed to the virus was reported to be in critical condition.
The Shandong woman, surnamed Zhang, lived in Jinan, the provincial capital. She fell ill on January 5 and died on Saturday evening.
The national disease prevention and control center confirmed yesterday that she was infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.
People who had been in close contact with Zhang were placed under observation, but none have exhibited symptoms of the disease.
The case was reported to the World Health Organization.
In Shanxi Province, the 2-year-old, surnamed Peng, was confirmed to be infected with the same virus on Saturday. Checks of the 67 people who had been in close contact with her turned up no signs of infection.
The girl became ill on January 7 in central China's Hunan Province and was taken to a hospital in her home province on January 11, an official with the provincial health department said.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement on its Website that the girl was transferred to another hospital after her symptoms grew worse.
The ministry did not say how the girl had become infected. There have not been any reports of outbreaks of the virus among birds in Hunan since May 2007.
"Currently, the girl's condition is critical. Shanxi health departments are fighting to save her with the guidance of a team of health experts," the Ministry of Health said.
It added that the WTO and health authorities in Hong Kong and Macau had been notified.
"We are staying in close contact with the health ministry," a spokeswoman from the WHO's China office said.
The earlier fatality involved a 19-year-old woman named Huang Yanqing who died in Beijing on January 5 after buying ducks at a market in Hebei Province, which surrounds the Chinese capital. It was the first human infection in almost a year.
Experts said Huang's case was not unexpected as the virus is more active during the cooler months between October and March, but they also said it pointed to holes in the virus surveillance system covering poultry.
The Ministry of Agricultur said last week it had found no bird flu among poultry in Beijing or nearby areas.
The H5N1 virus remains largely a disease among birds, but experts fear it could change into a form that is easily transmitted among humans and spark a pandemic.
In addition to those cases, earlier in the day, a 2-year-old in Shanxi Province who was exposed to the virus was reported to be in critical condition.
The Shandong woman, surnamed Zhang, lived in Jinan, the provincial capital. She fell ill on January 5 and died on Saturday evening.
The national disease prevention and control center confirmed yesterday that she was infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.
People who had been in close contact with Zhang were placed under observation, but none have exhibited symptoms of the disease.
The case was reported to the World Health Organization.
In Shanxi Province, the 2-year-old, surnamed Peng, was confirmed to be infected with the same virus on Saturday. Checks of the 67 people who had been in close contact with her turned up no signs of infection.
The girl became ill on January 7 in central China's Hunan Province and was taken to a hospital in her home province on January 11, an official with the provincial health department said.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement on its Website that the girl was transferred to another hospital after her symptoms grew worse.
The ministry did not say how the girl had become infected. There have not been any reports of outbreaks of the virus among birds in Hunan since May 2007.
"Currently, the girl's condition is critical. Shanxi health departments are fighting to save her with the guidance of a team of health experts," the Ministry of Health said.
It added that the WTO and health authorities in Hong Kong and Macau had been notified.
"We are staying in close contact with the health ministry," a spokeswoman from the WHO's China office said.
The earlier fatality involved a 19-year-old woman named Huang Yanqing who died in Beijing on January 5 after buying ducks at a market in Hebei Province, which surrounds the Chinese capital. It was the first human infection in almost a year.
Experts said Huang's case was not unexpected as the virus is more active during the cooler months between October and March, but they also said it pointed to holes in the virus surveillance system covering poultry.
The Ministry of Agricultur said last week it had found no bird flu among poultry in Beijing or nearby areas.
The H5N1 virus remains largely a disease among birds, but experts fear it could change into a form that is easily transmitted among humans and spark a pandemic.
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