Herder dies from a form of plague

Health authorities in Gansu province have confirmed the death of a patient from septicemic plague - a rare disease in China - and strict control and prevention measures are being imposed.

The patient, a herder from Jiuquan's Subei Mongolian autonomous county, died on Tuesday afternoon despite efforts by medical personnel, according to a statement by the Gansu Health and Family Planning Commission on Wednesday. The patient's gender was not disclosed.

Experts said tests had confirmed at 11 pm that the patient died of septicemic plague that evolved from bubonic plague, which was reported as a suspected plague case at 5:30 pm.