Another case of bird flu appears in Laos

World Health Organization (WHO) officials say it is likely 42-year-old woman who died in Laos had bird flu.

Two samples have tested positive for H5 officials say they are waiting for further tests to confirm the woman was infected with the H5N1 strain.

The woman who lived in a village near the capital, Vientiane, where the H5N1 virus has been found in poultry, is the country's first fatality from the deadly virus.

A 15-year-old girl, also from Vientiane province, has been infected with H5N1 virus and is being treated in Thailand.

The WHO says at present there does not appear to be a link between the two cases but a month ago there was a confirmed outbreak of bird flu among chickens in that area.

According to authorities the 42-year-old woman became ill with severe pneumonia and a high temperature at the end of February, but it is unclear whether she was exposed to sick poultry.

Meanwhile investigations continue into the source of the virus and health officials in Laos say that the woman's family are being monitored closely but that none as yet show any signs of infection.

To date worldwide 167 people have died of bird flu since late 2003; most have been in Asia, with Indonesia registering the highest death toll.

The virus has also spread to Europe, the Middle East and Africa and as a result millions of birds across the world have died or been culled because of it.

The virus remains essentially a disease of birds which is difficult for people to catch and almost all cases have involved contact with sick birds.

Nevertheles experts fear the virus could mutate to a form which is easily passed from human to human, triggering a pandemic with the potential to kill millions of people.

The Ministry of Health in China has reported one case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The case is a 44-year-old woman from Jian'ou county, Fujian province. She became ill with fever and pneumonia on 18 February and was hospitalized on 22 February where she remains in critical condition. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Fujian provincial laboratory on 26 February and by the national laboratory the next day.

Information provided to WHO indicates that she is a farmer who kept birds in her back yard and was possibly exposed to sick birds. An investigation is under way to determine if this exposure was the source of her infection. Close contacts have been placed under medical observation.

Of the 23 cases confirmed to date in China, 14 have been fatal.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3).

The 4-year-old girl was from Dakahlea Governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 February, was admitted to hospital on 26 February and her condition remains stable. The girl was exposed to sick birds at her home one week prior to the onset of symptoms. Contacts of the girl remain healthy and are being closely monitored.

Of the 23 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

http://www.who.int