Mainland flu cases rise to 14, one suspected

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-28 19:35

FUZHOU -- The number of confirmed A(H1N1) cases on the Chinese mainland rose to 14, while suspected cases fell to one, after the eastern Fujian Province reported its second flu case Thursday, said the provincial health bureau.

The newly confirmed case involved a 25-year-old Chinese male who arrived in Beijing Monday evening on Air China flight CA982 from New York and then flew to Fuzhou, capital of Fujian, on CA1821, the same day.

He had a cough and sore throat early Tuesday and went to the Fuzhou No.2 Hospital, where his temperature was measured at 37.5 degrees Celsius.

He tested positive for A(H1N1) flu Wednesday by the Fujian Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Center and positive again Thursday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The man, who was being treated at the Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital, was in stable condition with a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, the health bureau said.

The bureau said 84 people had been exposed to him. In Fujian, 19 among the 23 exposed people in the province had been quarantined while the other four had not been found. Others were been sought nationwide.

The 14 confirmed cases involve eight provinces and municipalities: five in Beijing, two in Guangdong, two in Fujian, and one each in Shanghai, Hunan, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang.

The remaining suspected case was in Shanghai.

As of Thursday, seven confirmed cases had been discharged from hospitals, which included a case in Fujian.

The Fujian case, also China's youngest flu patient, a 22-month-old baby girl, was discharged from a hospital in east China's Fujian Province Thursday, the provincial health bureau said.

The girl left the Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital accompanied by her grandmother with the approval of the provincial health bureau.