BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A 31-year old female patient suffering from an unknown pneumonia in northeast China's Liaoning Province has been confirmed to be infected of bird flu virus, H5N1, according to a press release of the Ministry of Health on Thursday.

    The patient, surnamed Liu, is a farmer from Heishan County of Liaoning Province. Liu became ill on Oct. 30, with fever and symptom of pneumonia. She recovered and was discharged from hospital on Nov. 29.

    The patient was found to have contacted with ill birds before she was ill, while her residential place has been confirmed as an affected area of bird flu.

    She was once tested negative by the China Disease Prevention and Control Center, but on Dec. 5, a further test showed she had been infected of bird flu, according to the press release.

    Local medical departments have put those who have had close contacts with the patient under medical observation, but no irregularities were found, so far.

    The ministry has made timely reports to the World Health Organization, China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and some foreign nations. Enditem