A/H1N1 patient died of electrocution

The 34 year old woman who yesterday was reported to be the first Chinese fatal case of the A/H1N1 flu actually died from electrocution, police in Hangzhou said today.

"The patient died of electrocution caused by leakage of electricity from electrical circuits in her ward lavatory, when she was taking a shower," said a statement jointly released by the public security, health and quality supervision departments.

The patient was a 34-year-old woman named who was admitted on June 23 to the People's Hospital, in Xiaoshan District, after being diagnosed with A/H1N1 flu. She had already recovered from the flu when she was found dead in her ward lavatory by a nurse at 7.35 am Wednesday.

Police said an autopsy was carried out on her body.

More than 50 of the patient's relatives protested at the hospital from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday, throwing rocks on the building and on an ambulance.

According to Shen Xiaohui, director of the hospital, the hospital would "properly handle the aftermath of the accident, and negotiate with the patient's relatives over the compensation issue."