A toddler under 2 years old near Bangkok has been confirmed to carry the H5N1 virus. The child may have contracted the virus while playing around the family’s chickens in their backyard.
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Vaccination for chicks. |
The boy fell ill shortly after three fighting cocks and a regular chicken from the family died from the flu. Currently, the boy’s 65-year-old grandmother is also showing symptoms and is awaiting test results. This means the boy is the first confirmed patient in Thailand’s capital after nearly a month without reported cases, according to the Director-General of the Thai Medical Agency. The H5N1 virus has resulted in 13 fatalities in Thailand since late 2003.
Meanwhile, China is urgently controlling an outbreak in Liaoning province following three consecutive cases within 24 hours. The Chinese government has noted that the situation in the province is not yet fully contained and has warned of potential disaster.
Yesterday, China reported a suspected fourth case – a poultry farmer named Liu from Heishan village, the first outbreak location in Liaoning. The patient developed severe pneumonia after coming into contact with sick chickens. Initial test results were negative, but further antibody testing will take another two weeks. The patient is currently stable and has returned to normal body temperature.
Ms. Liu is among 121 individuals in Heishan village who had direct contact with infected poultry and were hospitalized after showing high fever and flu-like symptoms. The likelihood of infection among the remaining individuals has been ruled out.
In the Gulf region, test results confirmed that a flamingo found on the coast of Kuwait was infected with the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, while an imported hawk carried the “benign” H5N2 virus. Both birds have been destroyed. Experts are concerned about the risk of an avian flu outbreak in the Middle East due to the region’s position on a major migratory bird route.
My Linh (according to Reuters, AP)
