Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Chinese bus driver who tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus died in a city bordering Hong Kong today, health officials said.
It was the country's first reported case of the disease in humans in 18 months.
The man surnamed Chen died in the wealthy southern city of Shenzhen, provincial health officials said. Shenzhen is separated by a small river from Hong Kong, where thousands of birds have been slaughtered after two were confirmed to have the virus last week.
During the month prior to his fever, the 39-year-old had apparently had no direct contact with poultry and did not travel out of Shenzhen, a metropolis of 10 million people.
H5N1 rarely infects humans and usually only those who come into close contact with diseased poultry. But among those infected, nearly 60% die, and scientists are closely watching the virus for any signs it is becoming more easily transmissible from human to human.
Chen developed a fever on December 21 and was admitted to hospital on December 25, city and provincial authorities said in a statement. Health Ministry experts confirmed today that he was infected with H5N1, the provincial health department said.
The Guangdong health department also said 120 people who had close contact with Chen have not developed any abnormal symptoms.
The Ministry of Health has informed the World Health Organisation about the case, local authorities said.
WHO says globally there have been 336 human deaths from 573 confirmed bird flu cases since 2003. Of these, 40 cases were in China, 26 of which were fatal.
Chen's death comes a week after two dead birds tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong.
More than 19,000 birds at a Hong Kong market were slaughtered and imports and sales of live poultry were banned for three weeks after a chicken carcass tested positive for H5N1. Lab tests later confirmed that an Oriental magpie robin found dead on December 17 was also infected.
China's last reported human case of H5N1 was in June 2010. A pregnant 22-year-old woman from central Hubei province died after being exposed to sick and dead poultry.
AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments