Chinese Youth Dies of Bird Flu

Chinese health authorities Wednesday confirmed a 16-year-old boy had died of bird flu.

The official Xinhua news agency reported the youth — who had lived in the eastern Anhui province — died Tuesday night after developing symptoms of fever, muscle aches and pneumonia 11 days ago. He was sent to a hospital March 18 but he could not be saved, a health spokesman said.

Subsequent tests showed the patient was infected with the bird flu virus strain H5N1. Local health authorities were monitoring those who had come in close contact with the patient and said that, thus far, no new cases have been reported, Xinhua said.

Reports on the death of the youth have been sent to the World Health Organization and health agencies in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, authorities said.