05.03.2006

A man who died last week in the south Chinese province of Guangdong has been confirmed by the health ministry as the country's ninth victim of avian influenza.
The 32-year-old fell ill after frequenting a market in the main city, Guangzhou, and he was diagnosed as having the H5N1 strain of the virus.
The new victim brings to 15 the number of human cases registered officially on the Chinese mainland.