Shenzhen health officials yesterday reported a suspected human case of bird flu. The victim was identified as a 31-year-old man surnamed Jiang, who was in a critical condition last night.

 

Jiang complained of fever, coughing and back pain on June 3 and was admitted to Shenzhen People's Hospital last Friday, according to authorities.

 

The Shenzhen Center for Disease Control said Jiang tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. The Guangdong provincial health bureau then reported the case to the Ministry of Health for verification.

 

The patient was transferred to the city's Donghu Hospital yesterday for advanced treatment after his body temperature measured 40 degrees Celsius.

 

Medical staff are disinfecting all possible contamination sites in the city.

 

If state health officials confirm the preliminary diagnosis, Jiang's would be China's 19th human victim of the disease, 12 of whom have died.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2006)