Bird flu claims fifth life
2004-01-19 08:06
Hanoi, Vietnam - The World Health Organisation confirmed on Monday that a fifth person in Vietnam has died after contracting the bird flu that is ravaging chicken farms throughout Asia.
"Based on the results shared with us by Vietnam's Ministry of Health, WHO agrees that the cause of death of an eight-year-old girl from Ha Tay province on January 17 at the National Hospital for Pediatrics in Hanoi was caused by the H5N1 virus," WHO spokesperson Bob Dietz said.
The girl was admitted to the hospital on January 15. She first exhibited symptoms of the illness on January 11.
So far, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in five cases. All five patients have died. Vietnam has reported at least 18 suspected cases, with 13 deaths.
Health officials believe the infected patients contracted the disease through contact with the sick birds' droppings.
There has been no evidence of person-to-person transmission. Health officials have warned that if the virus mutates, to allow transmission through human contact, it could make the disease a bigger health crisis than Sars.
The WHO has sent in a team of international experts to Hanoi to investigate the avian influenza, which has resulted in the deaths or slaughter of some two million chickens in Vietnam.
The virus also has infected chickens in South Korea and Japan.
- AP