Published Date: 2007-03-04 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (03): Laos, susp.
Archive Number: 20070304.0763
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - MBDS REGION (03): LAOS, SUSPECTED
***************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
[1]
Date: 4 Mar 2007
From: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
Source: BBC Online
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6417537.stm>
Woman dies from bird flu in Laos
------------------
A 42-year-old woman has become the first person to die from avian
influenza in Laos, officials have said.
Authorities said they were awaiting further tests to see if the woman
was infected with the H5N1 strain.
The woman lived in a village near the capital, Vientiane, where the
H5N1 virus has been found in poultry.
On Thursday [1 Mar 2007], the country confirmed a 15-year-old girl,
also from Vientiane province, had been infected with H5N1. She is
being treated in Thailand.
World Health Organization spokeswoman Dida Connor told the AFP news
agency that it was likely that the 42-year-old woman had the virus
but that there was no link between the 2 cases.
The woman fell ill after developing severe pneumonia and a high
temperature at the end of February [2007].
Trigger fear
In a statement, the WHO said "the woman's exposure to sick poultry is
unclear at this stage and investigations are ongoing."
Health officials in Laos said that the woman's family and relatives
were being monitored closely but that none had so far shown any signs
of infection.
Globally, some 160 people have died of bird flu since late 2003. Most
have been in East Asia, with Indonesia registering more human deaths
than any other country.
But the virus has also spread to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Millions of birds across the world have died or been culled because
of the disease.
At the moment, the virus is essentially confined to birds and remains
hard for people to catch.
But there is a fear that it could mutate to a form which is easily
passed from human to human, triggering a pandemic and potentially
putting millions of people's lives at risk.
--
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
******
[2]
Date: Mon 5 Mar 2007
From: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
Source: ABC Radio Australia [edited]
<http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1862629.htm>
Laos woman dies of suspected avian influenza
-------------------------------------------------
A 42-year-old Laos woman who is believed to have contracted the
deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus has died in hospital in the capital
Vientiane.
The World Health Organization, in a statement released jointly with
the Laos health ministry, says tests have shown the woman had H5
avian influenza.
However, authorities are still waiting for further results to
determine whether it was the H5N1 strain.
Last Tuesday [27 Feb 2007], Laos PDR confirmed its 1st human case of
the deadly strain in a 15-year-old girl from a different suburban
district of Vientiane.
It's where an outbreak of H5N1 in poultry was confirmed a month ago.
The girl is being treated in a Thai hospital.
The World Health Organization says there's no direct link between the 2 cases.
According to WHO figures, 275 human cases of avian influenza have
been confirmed worldwide, with 167 deaths.
--
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[If this case is confirmed as due to H5N1 infection, it will be the
2nd confirmed case of human H5N1 infection in Laos. We await further
information from confirmatory testing. (The identification of an H5
influenza A virus is highly suspect that H5N1 will be confirmed).
As mentioned in the earlier posting on the 1st case in Laos (see
PRO/MBDS posting Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (02): Laos,
conf. 20070227.0704), human cases have been reported from neighboring
countries in the MBDS region. Since 2003 Thailand has confirmed 25
cases with 17 deaths, Viet Nam has confirmed 93 cases with 42 deaths,
Cambodia has confirmed 6 cases with 6 deaths and China has confirmed
23 cases with 14 deaths. (The cumulative case count of human cases of
avian influenza by country current as of 1 Mar 2007 can be found at:
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2007_03_01/en/index.html>.
A good map of Laos can be found
at:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/laos_pol93.jpg>.
- Mods.KS/MPP]
See Also
Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (02): Laos, conf. 20070227.0704Avian influenza, human - MBDS region: Laos, susp, RFI 20070225.0686
Avian influenza - MBDS region: Laos, RFI 20070216.0588
The below postings can be found by going to the ProMED-mail website
at < 20060819.2318
Avian influenza (167) - Thailand, Laos, Bulgaria 20060731.2117
Avian influenza (162) - Laos, Thailand 20060728.2092
Avian influenza (161) - Laos susp. 20060727.2066
......................ks/mpp
*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at
<http://www.isid.org/ProMEDMail_Premium.shtml>
************************************************************
Send all items for posting on the PRO/MBDS list to:
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org> (NOT to an individual
moderator). If you do not give your full name and
affiliation, it may not be posted. If you are concerned
about repercussions if your name appears on a posting,
please advise us to withhold your identifying information
when you submit a piece for posting. Send commands to
subscribe / unsubscribe, get archives, help, etc. to:
majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a human being
send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org>
############################################################
############################################################