China has confirmed a fresh outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in poultry in its central Hubei province.
This latest outbreak comes as China is battling to control seven other outbreaks since the beginning October.
Premier Wen Jiabao warned this week that the country was facing a "very serious situation" as the disease had not been brought under control and was likely to spread.
China has yet to report a human case of bird flu, which has killed over 60 people in Asia since 2003, though the World Health Organisation is helping probe a possible human case in Hunan province, which had an outbreak in October.
Hong Kong ATVreported a woman in northern province of Liaoning was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
Initial test results showed she did not have the bird flu but she is undergoing more tests, it said. The woman is known to have come into contact with sick chickens, ATVsaid.