China's Ministry of Health on Monday announced another human case of bird flu.

The infected person is a 29-year-old peddler surnamed Cao from Jinhua Town, Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to a report released by the ministry.

She showed symptoms of fever and pneumonia on January 12 and is currently in a critical condition.

Cao's samples tested positive for the H5N1 virus by the Sichuan provincial center for disease control and prevention (CDC) on January 17. Later, China's CDC re-tested her samples, which also showed positive, and isolated the H5N1 strain from the samples.

She has been confirmed to be infected with the bird flu virus in accordance with the standards set out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese government, the ministry said.

The ministry did not say if there was an outbreak of bird flu in poultry in the area where Cao lived.

Those who have had close contact with Cao are under medical observation by local health authorities. So far, no abnormal symptoms have been reported.

This is the 10th human case of bird flu reported in China, six of whom have died.

Also on Monday, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu called for continuous efforts throughout the country to prevent and control avian flu during the upcoming Spring Festival and in the early spring.

Addressing a meeting held by the State Council on prevention and control of bird flu, Hui said the consumption demand for poultry products would soar during the lunar new year holidays, and in early spring, migratory birds would begin their northern-ward movement, which will pose new challenges to the country's efforts to prevent and control the virus.

"Although the current situation is under control, we cannot relax or be optimistic. More outbreaks of bird flu are possible this year," he said.

According to Agricultural Minister Du Qinglin, China has reported 33 bird flu outbreaks since 2005, involving 14 provinces and regions. So far, quarantine has been lifted in 32 affected areas.

Figures released by the WHO show that as of today, the world has reported 149 human infection cases of bird flu, including 80 deaths.

At the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza held in Beijing on January 17 and 18, over US$1.8 billion of donations were collected from the European Union, the United States, China and other countries to reinforce global efforts in bird flu prevention and control.

Premier Wen Jiabao announced at the conference that the Chinese government would donate US$10 million to the cause.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2006)