Avian influenza – situation in China

20 February 2008

The Ministry of Health in China has reported a new case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case is a 22-year old male from Jianghua County, Yongzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province.

He developed symptoms on 16 January was hospitalized on 23 January and died on 24 January. The case was confirmed by the national laboratory on 17 February. Investigations into the source of his infection are ongoing.

Of the 28 cases confirmed to date in China, 18 have been fatal.