China scrambled Monday to stamp out a possible revived bird flu threat, after a second death from the illness at a time when poultry consumption is spiking ahead of the nation's main holiday.

 

A 27-year-old woman surnamed Zhang died in the eastern province of Shandong on Saturday, nearly two weeks after becoming ill, the provincial health bureau said.

 

It was the second confirmed fatality this month from the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, and the news comes at the worst time for Chinese health authorities.

 

Poultry consumption is rising with just one week to go before the Lunar New Year, while low winter temperatures are creating conditions that are conducive to the spread of the virus.

 

"With the approach of the Lunar New Year, the trade in poultry products is increasing, and there is a growing risk of the emergence and spread of epidemics," the agriculture ministry warned.

 

China's Lunar New Year is the occasion for a week-long holiday, with many of the country's 1.3 billion people travelling for family reunions that are characterised by big meals featuring poultry and other meats.

 

The agriculture ministry called for a number of measures to counter the re-emerging threat, including stepped up surveillance and increased production of poultry vaccines.

 

 

This indicated that the virus was lurking undetected in poultry and waiting to be passed on to humans.

 

China has reported the latest cases to the World Health Organisation, or WHO, as well as health authorities in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, according to the China News Service.

 

"The ministry of health has informed the WHO of the two cases over the weekend, and we're prepared to offer technical support if they ask," said Nyka Alexander, a Beijing-based WHO spokeswoman.