Announcement

**Giuseppe** · January 24, 2009, 04:10 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Reuters AlertNet - China reports new bird flu death

China reports new bird flu death

24 Jan 2009 09:04:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Corrects totals of known cases in China in paragraph 8)
BEIJING, Jan 24 (Reuters) -

China on reported its fourth human death from H5N1 bird flu in recent weeks on Saturday, this time in the far northwest region of Xinjiang.

The Chinese Ministry of Health reported on its website (www.moh.gov.cn) that the latest victim was a 31-year-old woman surnamed Zhang who died in the early hours of Friday. It follows three other recent deaths across the country from the virus.

The Xinjiang disease control centre confirmed that the woman, a resident of the regional capital Urumqi, was infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus, the report said. She fell ill two weeks ago, it said.

Investigators found that the woman "had a history of exposure in poultry markets", the Ministry's report said. But it did not give any details.

Even before this latest deaths, Chinese health officials have been urging extra vigilance against the virus after confirming four human infections in the past two weeks, including three deaths.

Those victims all fell ill in areas where there had been no known cases of bird flu in birds.

The H5N1 strain of flu remains largely a virus among birds, but experts fear it could change into a form that is easily transmitted among humans and could spark a pandemic that could kill millions worldwide.

Including the latest death, at least 35 people have been infected in China and 24 have died from H5N1.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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<cite cite="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP300248.htm">Reuters AlertNet - China reports new bird flu death</cite>

**Giuseppe** · January 24, 2009, 04:29 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

China reports fourth bird flu death this year - Channelnewsasia.com

China reports fourth bird flu death this year

Posted: 24 January 2009 1635 hrs
BEIJING -

A 31-year-old Chinese woman has died of bird flu, becoming the country's fourth victim of the disease this year, the state Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.

The woman fell ill on January 10 after visiting a poultry market and died early on Friday in northwest China's Xinjiang region, Xinhua said, citing local health authorities.

Tests confirmed she was suffering from the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, it said.

The woman was China's third avian flu victim in seven days -- a 16-year-old boy died on Tuesday in the central province of Hunan and a 27-year-old woman succumbed to the disease last Saturday in the eastern province of Shandong.

The first fatality of 2009 occurred on January 5 when a 19-year-old woman died in Beijing, while a two-year-old girl who fell critically ill with the disease in Shandong was on Friday said to be out of danger.

The latest cases have prompted fears of a bird flu outbreak during next week's Lunar New Year holiday, when many of China's 1.3 billion people hit the roads and consume poultry in vast quantities.

China's agriculture ministry warned earlier this week of an increased risk as poultry sales rose ahead of the holiday period.

But the health ministry sought to calm fears, noting that the recent cases were spread across the country.

"There is no epidemiological connection between them; they are sporadic cases," the ministry said in a statement.

Scientists have long feared the virus could mutate to a form that could jump easily from human to human, potentially sparking a global pandemic.

China is considered one of the nations most at risk from bird flu epidemics because it has the world's biggest poultry population and many chickens in rural areas are kept close to humans.

The total number of reported deaths in China since the virus re-emerged in 2003 now stands at 24.

The World Health Organisation says about 250 people have died from bird flu worldwide since 2003.

- AFP/ir
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<cite cite="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/404625/1/.html">Channelnewsasia.com</cite>

**Giuseppe** · January 24, 2009, 04:45 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Fourth death from bird flu reported in China - Xinhua

Fourth death from bird flu reported in China

www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-24 16:37:02
URUMQI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) --

A 31-year-old woman has died of bird flu in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, becoming the fourth death from the disease in the country so far this year, the local health department said Saturday.

The woman, a resident in the regional capital Urumqi, died at 4:40 a.m. Friday.

She had been to a poultry market before she fell ill on Jan. 10, said Wang Xiaoyan, deputy director of the regional health department.

She was confirmed to have been infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday.

Before the death in Xinjiang, three others have died of bird flu and another has been infected in the country so far this year.

The first death was a 19-year-old woman in Beijing on Jan. 5, followed by a 27-year-old woman in Shandong on Jan. 17 and a 16-year-old boy in Hunan on Jan. 20. A 2-year-old girl who was critically ill with the disease was out of danger at a hospital in Shanxi on Friday after her vital signs remained stable for six consecutive days.

The death rate for bird flu patients is above 60 percent.

Editor: An
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<cite cite="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/24/content_10714041.htm">Fourth death from bird flu reported in China_English_Xinhua</cite>

**Giuseppe** · January 24, 2009, 05:03 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Hong Kong: Notification of a human case of avian flu in Xinjiang (1/24/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from Ministry of Health (MoH) today (January 24) concerning a confirmed human case of avian influenza H5N1 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A CHP spokesman said the patient was a 31-year-old woman living in Urumqi. She developed symptoms on January 10 and passed away on January 23.

The woman had history of exposure at live poultry market before onset of symptoms.

Laboratory tests on the patient's specimen by Chinese Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention yielded positive for H5N1.

The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the MoH to obtain more information on the case.

The spokesman reminded members of the public to remain vigilant against avian influenza infection and to observe the following measures:
* Avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings; if contacts have been made, they should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;
* Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
* Wash hands frequently;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue and put it into covered dustbins;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with sick people with fever;
* Wear a mask when you have respiratory symptoms or need to take care of patients with fever;
* When you have fever and influenza-like illnesses during a trip or when coming back to Hong Kong, you should consult doctors promptly and reveal your travel history.

For further information on avian influenza, please visit the CHP website: http://www.chp.gov.hk.
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View Original Article

**Giuseppe** · January 24, 2009, 05:13 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Reuters AlertNet - China reports fourth bird flu death this month

China reports fourth bird flu death this month

24 Jan 2009 09:55:04 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds details in paragraphs 6-13)
BEIJING, Jan 24 (Reuters) -

China reported its fourth human death from the H5N1 bird flu virus this month on Saturday, this time in the far northwest region of Xinjiang.

The Chinese Ministry of Health reported on its website (www.moh.gov.cn) that the latest victim was a 31-year-old woman surnamed Zhang who died in the early hours of Friday. Her death from the virus follows three others over past weeks.

Experts have confirmed that the woman, a resident of the regional capital Urumqi, was infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus, the report said. She fell ill two weeks ago.

Investigators also found that she "had a history of exposure in poultry markets", the Ministry's report said. But it did not give any details.

Even before this latest deaths, Chinese health officials have been urging extra vigilance against the virus after confirming four human infections, including three deaths, during January, when the winter weather is thought to help the virus spread.

The dead victims all fell ill in areas where there had been no known outbreaks of H5N1 in birds. But they were all many thousands of kilometres from the Xinjiang death.

They were a woman who died near Beijing, another who died in eastern Shandong province, and a teenage boy who died in central Hunan province. A toddler also fell ill.

The H5N1 strain of flu remains largely a virus among birds. But experts say the danger is that the virus will evolve into a form that people can easily catch and pass to one another, risking a pandemic in which millions of people could die.

Even before the latest death, China's health minister, Chen Zhu, said that the country faces a "grim" situation in preventing and controlling human cases of bird flu.

Including the latest death, at least 35 people have been infected in China and 24 have died from H5N1.

Chen called for hospitals to use more resources in diagnosing and treating bird flu and urged closer cooperation between agriculture authorities and his ministry, the Xinhua news agency reported earlier this week.

But Chen also said the cases up to then were isolated ones.

Other populous Asian nations are also at risk. Two Indonesians died of bird flu, the health ministry there said this week, bringing that country's death toll from the disease to 115.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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<cite cite="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP328655.htm">Reuters AlertNet - China reports fourth bird flu death this month</cite>

**Commonground** · January 24, 2009, 05:31 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Xinjiang, one cases of confirmed human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases

The Ministry of Health Web site January 24 Health Department reported that the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region January 24 Informed, autonomous regions confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases.

张某某patients, female, 31 years old, living in Urumqi City头屯河区. Patients January 10, 2009 Disease exacerbations after hospital treatment. Because patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, at At 4:40 on January 23 死亡.

January 22 Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention collected specimens of patients with laboratory analysis, results for the H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. January 24 , The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on samples of patients with respiratory secretions of the review of testing, results showed that H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. Epidemiological survey found that patients have a live poultry market before exposure history.

According to World Health Organization of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed case definition and China's diagnostic standards for human avian influenza prevention and control of the Ministry of Health expert group to determine the cases of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

疫情发生后，新疆维吾尔自治区人民政府高度重视，已按照《人感染高致病性禽流感应急预案》采取了相应的防控措施。 Close contacts of all the implementation of strict medical observation, and timely to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation. Up to now, all close contacts are not unusual clinical manifestations. (This article Source: Ministry of Health website)

**Commonground** · January 24, 2009, 05:37 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Xinjiang plans to start to prevent human bird flu

January 24, 2009
Xinhua Urumqi January 24 (Xinhua Pan) in view of Urumqi There were outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza infection, Urumqi City, health and epidemic prevention department immediately activated the prevention and control plans, and actively take measures to Shi, do a good job of human infection of highly
pathogenic avian influenza prevention and control work.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Health Department announced this afternoon on the 24th, Xinjiang confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases, as patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, was at 4:40 on the 23rd death.

It is understood that the woman patient, 31 years old, living in Urumqi City头屯河区, January 10 in the disease, the condition worsened after the hospitalized patients have a live poultry market before exposure history.

At present, the Urumqi City of the city at all levels to strengthen the medical institutions to monitor cases of pneumonia of unknown causes, investigation, reporting and management of the establishment of a human avian influenza emergency management team, a 24-hour shifts, ready to deal with the epidemic.

At the same time, the city's medical institutions to strengthen the management of fever clinics, asked if severe pneumonia cases of unknown causes or suspected human avian influenza cases should be promptly reported to health authorities, and the area of disease prevention and control centers, and in the case of Direct Network Report Case in good time before the confirmation.

In addition, they also strengthened its cooperation with the agricultural sector and livestock sector, business exchanges, exchange of information related to the epidemic, timely detection of suspicious circumstances to prevent the spread of the epidemic and endemic, and strengthened supervision and management of the food market to prevent蛋禽into the market without quarantine, to a good start with the mouth clearance.

**Commonground** · January 24, 2009, 05:46 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Xinjiang has not yet been found to closely monitor bird flu

http://www.tech-food.com 2009-1-23 16:11:45

January 20, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Department of Health Emergency Office, said Yang Bo, Xinjiang has not found all over the occurrence of avian influenza among poultry, no cases of human avian influenza.

Recently, Beijing, Shanxi, Shandong, each confirmed case of human bird flu cases. National Influenza Center director, said the dissemination of human avian influenza cases in China may also occur, but there were no signs of large-scale outbreak.

However, in winter and spring is a high incidence of avian influenza periods, together with the Spring Festival approaching, the frequent movement of livestock and poultry products, trading volume is very large, the bird flu outbreak and spread of risk will be further increased. Autonomous Region Health Department urged local health authorities to strengthen during the Spring Festival health emergency work closely monitoring avian influenza, food hygiene and safety, as well as pneumonia of unknown causes, such as public health incidents and do a good job of early warning monitoring and reporting.

Bo said that took place in Beijing and other places of human avian influenza case has aroused Xinjiang health administrations at all levels and medical institutions, as well as disease control departments have attached great importance to human bird flu fatality rate higher, but because there were no large-scale infections, Therefore the health sector is currently strengthening the surveillance of communicable diseases, if the event of cases, will be immediately carried out an emergency plan in accordance with the relevant disposal.

**sharon sanders** · January 24, 2009, 07:28 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: a new human fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

For the 2 year old (possible cluster case) from Human, please see this thread:

China: Girl, 2, Confirmed H5N1 Case from Hunan Province, hospitalized in Shanxi - FluTrackers News and Information

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91522

For the 27 year old woman case from Shandong, please see this thread:

China - Woman, 27, confirmed death H5N1 - Shandong - FluTrackers News and Information

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91617

For the 19 year old woman from Bejing, please see this thread:

China: Woman, 19, Confirmed H5N1 Death - Contacts Monitored - FluTrackers News and Information

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90425

For general China news and animal/poultry/wild birds outbreaks, please see this thread:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91832

**HenryN** · January 24, 2009, 08:04 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: woman, 31, fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Health Department January 24 briefing, autonomous regions confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases.

张某某patients, female, 31 years old, living in Urumqi City头屯河区. Patients January 10, 2009 the disease exacerbations after hospital treatment. Because patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, was at 4:40 on January 23 deaths.

January 22, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention collected specimens of patients with laboratory analysis, results for the H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. January 24, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on samples of patients with respiratory secretions of the review of testing, results showed that H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. Epidemiological survey found that patients have a live poultry market before exposure history.

According to World Health Organization of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed case definition and China's diagnostic standards for human avian influenza prevention and control of the Ministry of Health expert group to determine the cases of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

Epidemic occurred, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Government attached great importance to have been in accordance with the "human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza contingency plans" to take the corresponding control measures. Close contacts of all the implementation of strict medical observation, and timely to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation. Up to now, all close contacts are not unusual clinical manifestations.

http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/wsb/pyqxx/200901/38927.htm

**HenryN** · January 24, 2009, 08:17 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: woman, 31, fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Updated map

H5N1 East Asia 2009 - Google My Maps

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&t=h&msid=106484775090296685271.00045fcd12b84ad3ac0d8&ll=34.089061,104.765625&spn=34.070607,57.041016&z=4

H5N1 outbreaks in east Asia in 2008/2009 season

**HenryN** · January 24, 2009, 08:49 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: woman, 31, fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

This is a re-run of 2005/2006 when a series out outbreaks in the north were reported (Xianjiang, Shanxi, Liaoning). These outbreaks involved clade 7 and were difficul to control because the vaccines were not a good match.

Two More H5N1Wild Bird Flu Outbreaks Reported in China

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11180501/H5N1_Shanxi_Xinjiang.html

Recombinomics Commentary

**HenryN** · January 24, 2009, 10:58 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: woman, 31, fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

Commentary

Fatal H5N1 Case in Xinjiang China Raises Clade 7 Concerns

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01240901/H5N1_Xinjiang_7.html

Recombinomics Commentary

**HenryN** · January 24, 2009, 11:11 AM

Re: China: Xinjiang, Urumqi: woman, 31, fatal case of avian influenza A/H5N1 confirmed by Min. of Health.

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - CHINA (05): XINJIANG, FATAL
************************************************** **
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 24 Jan 2009
Source: China View, Xinhua News Agency [edited]
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/24/content_10714041.htm>

Another death from bird flu reported in China
---------------------------------------------
A 31-year-old woman has died of bird flu in northwest China's
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, becoming the 4th death from the
disease in the country so far this year [2009], the local health
department said Saturday [24 Jan 2009]. The woman, a resident in the
regional capital Urumqi, died at 4:40 a.m. Friday [23 Jan 2009]. She
had been to a poultry market before she fell ill on [10 Jan 2009],
said Wang Xiaoyan, deputy director of the regional health department.

She was confirmed to have been infected with the H5N1 strain of avian
influenza by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on
Saturday [24 Jan 2009].

Before the death in Xinjiang, 3 others have died of bird flu and
another has been infected in the country so far this year [2009]. The
1st death was a 19-year-old woman in Beijing on [5 Jan 2009],
followed by a 27-year-old woman in Shandong on [17 Jan 2009] and a
16-year-old boy in Hunan on [20 Jan 2009].

A 2-year-old girl who was critically ill with the disease was out of
danger at a hospital in Shanxi on Friday [23 Jan 2009] after her
vital signs remained stable for 6 consecutive days. The death rate
for bird flu patients is above 60 percent.

[Byline: An, editor]

--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has reported a 31-year-old female
as a new death from H5N1 infection. Her death was the 4th death from
H5N1 avian influenza infection in China during 2009. The previous
death from H5N1 infection was a 16-year-old boy from Guizhou
province. He died at Huaihua city of Hunan province on 20 Jan 2009
(see prior PRO/MBDS posting Avian influenza, human - China (04):
Hunan ex Guizhou, fatal, WHO 20090121.0257).

The cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza
A/(H5N1) reported to the WHO, dated 22 Jan 2009, is available at:
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2009_01_22/en/index.html>
where 34 cases and 22 deaths in China had reported to WHO since 2003.
Of note is that 2 deaths from Xinjiang and Hunan provinces are not
included in this report yet.

For a map of China with provinces, see:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_pol01.jpg>.

For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of China with links to other
ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings in China and surrounding areas,
see: <http://healthmap.org/promed?v=36.5,103.9,4>. - Mod.YMA]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human - China (04): Hunan ex Guizhou, fatal,
WHO 20090121.0257
Avian influenza, human - China (03): Shandong, fatal 20090118.0219
Avian influenza, human - China (02): Shanxi ex Hunan 20090118.0218
Avian influenza, human - China: Beijing, WHO 20090108.0078
2008
----
Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (11): China (Guangxi), WHO 20080222.0726
Avian influenza, human - MBDS Region (10): China (Guangxi) 20080221.0705
Avian influenza, human - China (02): Guangdong, WHO 20080227.0797
Avian influenza, human - China: Guangdong 20080225.0764
Avian influenza, human: China (Jiangsu), Pakistan, WHO 20080110.0135
2007
----
Avian influenza, human (05): China (Fujian), WHO conf. 20070530.1749
Avian influenza, human (04): China, RFI 20070526.1683
Avian influenza, human (03): China (Anhui) 20070329.1077
Avian influenza, human: H9N2, China (Hong Kong SAR) 20070320.0980]
....................yma/ejp/mpp