HANOI, Feb. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Vietnam's central highlands Gia Lai province, which is hit by bird flu much later than other localities, has reported six flu type A infections since Wednesday.

    A total of six residents in central highlands Gia Lai province have been hospitalized with symptoms of fever, headache and difficult breathing. One of the six patients has died, local newspaper Vietnam Agriculture reported Friday.

    An 18-year-old man, born in central highlands Lam Dong province's Di Linh district, died of flu type A on Monday in the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City. He was confirmed to havecontracted H5N1 later by the hospital.

    On Thursday, Ho Chi Minh City-based hospitals admitted nine patients, including five suspected cases of flu type A, raising the total number of infections and suspects in the city to 53. They have confirmed seven cases of flu type A infections, of whom six, one in the city and five in other localities, have died.

    By Thursday, Vietnam reported 124 flu type A infections and suspects in 22 cities and provinces. Enditem