The 18-year-old girl from Vietnam's southern Hau Giang province, who died on Monday, has just been confirmed to have contracted H5N1, marking the fourth fatality from the virus within two weeks.

"Our tests on specimens from her throat were positive with theH5N1 strain of bird flu," said virologist at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Van Tu, told Xinhua on Thursday.

The girl was hospitalized with the symptoms of high fever and lung infection on Friday, several days after she killed chicken.

Earlier, Vietnam reported five bird flu cases, including a 35-year-old woman from southern Tra Vinh province and an 18-year-old girl from southern Tien Giang province who are in critical health condition. Three others, including a 16-year-old girl from southern Tay Ninh province, a nine-year old boy from southern Tra Vinh province, and a six-year-old boy in southern Dong Thap province, respectively died on Jan. 8, Jan. 4, and Dec. 30.

Bird flu claimed at least 24 human lives in Vietnam since the previous outbreak starting in December 2003.

According to the Department of Animal Health, since December 2004, the relapse of bird flu has been seen in 13 localities across the country, killing or leading to the forced culling of nearly 115,000 fowls.

Source: Xinhua

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