10 January 2007

The Ministry of Health in China has confirmed a case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case is a 37 years old man from Tunxi in Anhui Province. He became symptomatic on 10 December 2006 and was hospitalised on 17 December 2006. The patient was discharged on 6 January and is recovering well.

Information provided to WHO indicates that he was a farmer and may have kept a number of birds in his back yard. No information on possible exposure to diseased birds as the source of his infection is presently available, but an investigation is under way. Close contacts were placed under medical observation but are all well and were released on 29th December.

Of the 22 cases confirmed to date in China, 14 have been fatal.