Thailand reports 25th bird flu case
Thailand has reported its 25th death from the H5N1 avian influenza virus – the 17th bird flu death in Thailand and the country’s third case this year.
A 60-year-old man who raised fighting roosters died on August 10. The man was from Bong Bua Lamphu province, about 379 miles northeast of Bangkok.
Praj Boonyawongwirojana, secretary of the health ministry, said that samples from the man were taken two days after he died, and that his diagnosis was confirmed last week.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not yet confirmed the case, but if it does, the number of confirmed avian influenza infections globally will reach 250, with 147 cases resulting in death. All three Thai cases this year have been fatal.
Thai disease control minister Thawat Suntrajarn said the man had been exposed to dead chickens. “It took about 14 days after he fell sick before he admitted to having contact with dead chickens. He loved his fighting cocks so much that he didn’t want the authorities to kill his surviving birds if he reported a large number of dead chickens,” he said.
The patient was treated with the antiviral medication oseltamivir when doctors suspected he might have avian flu.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, health officials are investigating a possible avian flu case cluster involving three siblings aged between 15 and 25 years. One of the siblings died, and the other two are hospitalised and undergoing tests.
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