Hunan province notes first human case of H7N9 bird flu

CHANGSHA, China, April 27 (UPI) —

Chinese health officials said they’ve confirmed the first human case of H7N9 bird flu in central Hunan province.

A 64-year-old woman known only by her surname, Guan, began suffering an intense fever April 14. Lab tests confirmed Saturday it was H7N9, a particularly deadly form of flu that has cropped up in China. At present, health officials said the virus cannot be transferred from person to person, state-run Xinhua News Agency said.

As with other cases, the woman was in close contact with poultry prior to getting sick. None of the 41 people who had close contact with her after she contracted the virus has become sick.

The woman’s health is said to be improving, Xinhua said.