H5N1 bird flu claimed its second human fatality in China this month when the Ministry of Health confirmed the death of a Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region man on Thursday.

The 41-year-old surnamed Liang in Nanning City developed fever and headache symptoms on February 12 and died at 5 a.m. on February 20 after all rescue measures proved ineffectual.

Tests of the man were H5N1 positive, said China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

On February 18, the health ministry confirmed a 22-year-old man surnamed Li in the central Hunan Province had tested positive for H5N1. Li died on January 24.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)