CHINA CONFIRMS H7N4 BIRD FLU

CHINA has confirmed the first human case of  H7N4 bird flu, prompting Hong Kong to issue a  health warning-

For those travelling to the mainland - during the busy Lunar New Year holiday.

The strain was identified in a 68-year-old woman from the eastern province of Jiangsu who was admitted to hospital after falling ill on December 25-

But had since recovered, according to China's National Health and Family planning Commission.

''She had contact with live poultry before the onset of symptoms,'' Hong Kong's Centre of Health Protection said late Wednesday after being informed of the case by Chinese authorities, who said-

The virus genes were of avian origin.

The world's first human case of bird flu were reported in Hong Kong in 1997, when six people were killed by the H5NI strain of the virus.

Hundreds more have died worldwide in subsequent outbreaks, especially of highly-virulent strains like H7N9.

The semi-autonomous southern Chinese city is a high-risk area for the spread of communicable disease because its high population density and busy regional and international links.

[Agencies]