China confirms 18th human bird flu case

SHANGHAI, Apr 27 (Reuters) An eight-year-old Chinesegirl has been infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, China's Xinhua news agency reported today, bringing the total number of confirmed such cases in the country to 18.

The girl, from southeast China's Sichuan province, is being treated in a local hospital, Xinhua said, citing the country's Ministry of Health.

The case was confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

''She developed symptoms of fever and pneumonia on April 16.

She remains hospitalised,'' the WHO said in a statement.

Local health authorities had put people who were in close contact with the patient under medical observation, Xinhua said, adding that none had so far shown any abnormal symptoms.

Poultry deaths had occurred in the patient's house before she caught the disease, Xinhua said.

REUTERS PR RK2212