The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Department of Health said Thursday that a notification was received from the Ministry of Health concerning a confirmed human case of avian influenza H5N1 in east China's Anhui Province.

A CHP spokesman said they received the notification on March 28 which told that the patient, a 16-year-old male student, developed fever and pneumonia on March 17 this year and died on March 27. Laboratory tests on the patient's specimen by China Center for Diseases Control and Prevention yielded positive to H5N1 virus.

The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the Ministry of Health to obtain more information on the case.

The spokesman reminded the public to remain vigilant against avian influenza infection and to take preventive measures such as to avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings; allow poultry and eggs to be cooked thoroughly before eating.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2007)