(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-30 07:02

The H5N1 virus has killed more than 70 people in Asia since late 2003 and is endemic in poultry flocks across parts of the region.

SWEEPING MEASURES

China, along with Vietnam, has suffered numerous outbreaks in poultry since October and Beijing has launched sweeping measures to stop the virus spreading and infecting more people, including a campaign to vaccinate all domestic poultry.

The Xinhua report did not offer any details of the Zhou's work or background; nor did it say how she may have contracted the H5N1 virus. Previous infections have involved people who had close contact with poultry.

Health officials in Sanming have taken steps to "check the spread of the virus" and are monitoring anybody who had close contact with Zhou, said Xinhua.

So far no other people around her have shown "abnormal clinical symptoms," it added.

Sanming is an inland area about 170 km (105 miles) from the coast. The Chinese health ministry has notified the World Health Organization, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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