China confirms human death from bird flu

BEIJING, Aug 14 (Reuters) A 62-year-old farmer in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang has died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the Health Ministry said today.

The farmer, surnamed Li and from Jimsar county, developed symptoms of fever and pneumonia on June 19 and died on July 12, the ministry said on its Web site (www.moh.gov.cn).

It was 20th human case of bird flu and the 13th fatality from the virus since last November.

Xinjiang has reported several bird flu outbreaks among poultry in the past year, but the Health Ministry said the farmer has had no contact with infected poultry before he fell ill.

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