Published Date: 2007-03-08 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (04): Laos, fatal
Archive Number: 20070308.0816

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - MBDS REGION (04): LAOS, FATAL
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Date: Thu 8 Mar 2007
From: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
Source: Reuter's Alert Net [edited]
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP212235.htm>

A 15-year-old Lao girl has died from bird flu, the country's 1st
confirmed death from the H5N1 virus, the Health Ministry said on
Thursday [8 Mar 2007], as it stepped up surveillance and public
awareness efforts.
"Knowledge can save lives," Health Minister Ponmek Dalaloy said in a
statement after the girl's death in a hospital in neighboring
Thailand on Wednesday [7 Mar 2007].
A 42-year-old Lao woman died of suspected bird flu last week, but
tests have not yet confirmed the H5N1 virus.
The teenage girl had lived in a suburb of Vientiane, the capital,
where the virus was found in poultry in January [2007]. But officials
say the level of her exposure to infected poultry is still unclear.
It was the 1st poultry outbreak in 7 months in the impoverished,
landlocked country, most of whose 5.6 million people live in villages.
"The government is enforcing immediate and stringent interventions
such as culling of all infected poultry, strengthening hospital
surveillance, and carrying out intensive information campaigns to
educate people on key preventative measures," Ponmek said.
According to the World Health Organization, the virus has infected at
least 275 people in 12 countries since 2003 and killed at least 167
of them in 10 countries [see latest update figures in moderator
comment below - Mod.MPP].
Public health experts fear it could mutate into a form that people
catch easily from one another, possibly sparking a pandemic.
--
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
******
[2]
Date: Thu 8 Mar 2007
From: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
Source: WHO EPR (Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response) [edited]
<http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_03_08/en/index.html>

Avian influenza -- situation in Lao People's Democratic Republic -- update
---------------------------------------
The Ministry of Health in Lao People's Democratic Republic has
confirmed the country's 1st death from H5N1 avian influenza. The
15-year-old female from Vientiane, whose infection was announced on
27 Feb [2007], died on 7 Mar [2007] after being hospitalized in
neighboring Thailand.
--
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[This is now the 1st confirmed fatal case of H5N1 human infection in
Laos. There is a 2nd fatal case in Laos still pending laboratory
confirmation of H5N1 infection (see PRO/MBDS posting Avian influenza,
human - MBDS region (03): Laos, susp. 20070304.0763, for more
information on this 2nd suspected case).
For the most current case count of confirmed human cases of H5N1
infection by country, see the WHO information website at
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2007_03_08/en/index.html>.
As of 8 Mar 2007, there have been a total of 277 cases confirmed with
168 deaths, with cases confirmed in 12 countries: Azerbaijan (8
cases/5 deaths), Cambodia (6 cases/6 deaths), China (23 cases/14
deaths), Djibouti (1 case/0 deaths), Egypt (23 cases/13 deaths),
Indonesia (81 cases/63 deaths), Iraq (3 cases/2 deaths), Laos (1
case/1 deaths), Nigeria (1 case/1 death), Thailand (25 cases/17
deaths), Turkey (12 cases/4 deaths), and Viet Nam (93 cases/42 deaths).
A good map of Laos can be found at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/laos_pol93.jpg> - Mod.MPP]

See Also

Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (03): Laos, susp. 20070304.0763
Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (02): Laos, conf. 20070227.0704
Avian influenza, human - MBDS region: Laos, susp, RFI 20070225.0686
Avian influenza - MBDS region: Laos, RFI 20070216.0588
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