Published Date: 2007-03-16 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (05): Laos, conf.
Archive Number: 20070316.0929
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - MBDS REGION (05): LAOS, CONFIRMATION
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[1]
Date: Fri 16 Mar 2007
From: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) Epidemic and Pandemic Alert
and Response (EPR) [edited]
<http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_03_16/en/index.html>
Avian influenza -- situation in Lao People's Democratic Republic -- update 2
------------------------------------------------------------
The Ministry of Health in Lao People's Democratic Republic has
reported a 2nd human case of infection with the H5N1 avian influenza
virus. The case was fatal.
Initial testing was conducted by the National Centre for Laboratory
and Epidemiology in Laos. In line with World Health Organisation
(WHO) policy, samples were sent to a WHO collaborating laboratory in
Tokyo for diagnostic verification and further analysis. The
collaborating centre has now confirmed H5N1 infection.
The 42-year-old female was from Saka village, Pong Hong district in
Vientiane province. She developed fever on 26 Feb [2007], was
hospitalized in Vientiane Provincial hospital on 28 Feb [2007] and
then transferred to Sethathirat hospital on 1 Mar [2007]. She died on
4 Mar [2007]. Tests taken during an investigation to determine the
source of exposure have found a duck positive for H5 in the woman's
household. Close family and hospital contacts are being monitored and
to date, none has shown signs of infection.
WHO continues to work closely with the Lao government to strengthen
case reporting, improve diagnostic capacity and increase awareness of
the disease in the community.
--
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
******
[2]
Date: Fri 16 Mar 2007
From: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
Source: Reuters AlertNet [edited]
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK12947.htm>
Tests confirm 2nd bird flu death in Laos
-----------------------------------------
Tests have confirmed the H5N1 bird flu virus killed a 42-year-old
woman in Laos, who possibly had contact with an infected duck, the
Lao Health Ministry and World Health Organisation said on Friday [16
Mar 2007]. The woman, the 2nd confirmed bird flu death in landlocked
Laos, fell ill in late February [2007] and died on 4 Mar [2007].
A healthy duck kept at her home in a province near the capital,
Vientiane, had tested positive for H5, the ministry and the WHO said
in a joint statement.
The government has stepped up surveillance and containment measures
since a 15-year-old girl fell sick from bird flu in February [2007],
and died on [8 Mar 2007].
The virus appears to be spreading among poultry into southern
provinces of the impoverished Communist-led country after outbreaks
around Vientiane in January [2007], the 1st in 7 months.
"We ask the Lao people to join together to halt the spread of the
disease," Health Minister Ponmek Dalaloy said in the statement.
--
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[A few observations on the information above. One is that there is
mention of finding an H5 influenza virus in a healthy duck in the
household of this case. It is not clarified if the H5 virus found is
H5N1 or H5N2 (one assumes that further characterization is currently
underway). If the duck is found to have H5N2 virus, then it is not
clear that the duck itself was the actual source of infection of the
patient. That being said, the finding in the household of a healthy
duck positive for an H5 influenza virus is a bit disconcerting. In
prior instances, the overwhelming majority of human H5N1 infections
have been associated with contact with sick or dead poultry, not
asymptomatic infections of poultry. If this woman's exposure to the
virus was only through contact with an asymptomatic duck, it raises
significant new concerns in the 'paradigm' of avian to human
transmission of the H5N1 virus; and it raises more questions than
answers currently available in relation to appropriate control and
prevention strategies for humans. We await further information from
knowledgeable sources on other studies underway.
A map of Laos with provinces can be found at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/laos_pol_2003.jpg>.
- Mod.MPP]
See Also
Avian influenza, human - MBDS region (04): Laos, fatal 20070308.0816Avian 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 (05): Laos, Viet Nam 20070309.0836
Avian influenza - MBDS region: Laos, RFI 20070216.0588
....................mpp/ks/mj/mpp
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