HANOI, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A 13-year-old Vietnamese girl from northern Thanh Hoa province has died with symptoms similar to bird flu patients, the local newspaper Pioneer reported on Thursday.

    The girl named Bui Thi Thuong had eaten poultry raised by her own family before passing away, the newspaper quoted her father Bui Van Hop as saying.

    Thuong was taken to the provincial Ba Thuoc hospital after developing such symptoms as high temperature, coughing, and having difficulty in breathing, said the newspaper. She died at the hospital on Jan. 2.

    Her 8-year-old sister Bui Thi Thao, who was confirmed of bird flu infection by the Vietnamese National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza on Tuesday, now is recovering, said the newspaper.

    Thao is in a stable condition and able to eat, walk and talk, said the newspaper.

    Specimens from poultry raised in Thanh Hoa province have recently been tested positive to bird flu virus. The provincial authorities have culled about 9,000 poultry to prevent further spread of the disease, said the newspaper.