China reports new bird flu outbreak
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-24 21:36

China detected a new bird flu outbreak in the far western Xinjiang region, the Xinhua News Agency said Thursday, bringing the total number of outbreaks for the country in recent weeks to 21.

The latest outbreak killed 11 birds at a farm in the city of Turpan on Nov. 17, prompting officials to kill 5,180 birds in the area, Xinhua said, citing the Agriculture Ministry.

The report did not specify what kind of birds were affected.

Also Thursday, China confirmed its second human death from bird flu — a 35-year-old farmer identified only by her surname, Xu, who died Tuesday after developing a fever and pneumonia-like symptoms following contact with sick and dead poultry, Xinhua said. The woman, who lived in Xiuning County in the eastern province of Anhui, tested positive for the H5N1 virus.

The area is about 60 miles northwest of Zongyang County, where the country's first human bird flu death was reported.

The 24-year-old woman, also a farmer, died Nov. 10 with the same symptoms as Xu after coming in contact with sick chickens and ducks at home.

China's only other confirmed human bird flu case was a 9-year-old boy in the central province of Hunan, who fell ill but recovered.

China on Tuesday reported a separate outbreak in Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi that killed 38 birds on Nov. 16.