The first person to survive the bird flu in China has been given a clean bill of health following medical checks performed on Saturday at the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital.

Ten-year-old He Junyao's body functions are all normal, said hospital officials, adding that the disease has not affected the boy's growth.

Doctor Jiang Yaohui said the hospital's timely and proper treatment of He helped save his life and promised the hospital will provide free medical exams for He until 18 years old.

The boy was hospitalized on Oct. 18 last year after suffering fever and a cough for five days. The Ministry of Health identified him as China's first human bird flu patient.

Since last October, China has reported 19 human cases of bird flu in Hunan, Anhui and Guangxi, 14 of them died.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2006)