Bird flu patient in stable condition in SW China

GUIYANG, Feb. 2 (Chinese media) -- A 29-year-old man who contracted bird flu last

month in southwest China's Guizhou Province is in stable condition, doctors said

Monday.

The patient surnamed Zhou was hospitalized for fever on Jan. 15and was

confirmed to be infected with bird flu on Jan. 24. After 18 days of treatment,

he was now in stable condition, said Sun Zhaolin, head of Guizhou Provincial

People's Hospital.

Zhou bought and killed a duck before falling ill. The hospital started

emergency treatment and quarantined the patient even before he tested positive

for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, Sun said.

"The hospital treated him under the guidance of experts from the Ministry

of Health. Zhou is now out of danger and is not infectious. We are continuing to

observe the patient."

Hunan has launched an emergency response against the virus. Those who had

close contact with the patient are under medical observation, but so far, there

have been no reports of illnesses.

China has reported eight bird flu cases of H5N1 since January. Five

patients have died.