China confirms human death from bird flu

BEIJING - A teenage boy died after falling ill with the H5N1 bird flu virus, Chinese state media reported today.

The 16-year-old came from Bengbu in eastern China's rural Anhui province, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a provincial health official. The boy was admitted to hospital on March 18 after falling ill with a fever and he died on Tuesday.

Tests by China's disease control authorities confirmed he had the H5N1 bird flu strain, which can spread from birds to humans through close contact. China has now reported a total of 24 human cases of bird flu, including 15 deaths since 2003.

- REUTERS