The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday the first case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Burma.
The case is a seven year-old girl from Burma's northeastern state of Shan, who was hospitalized on Nov. 27 and now has recovered, WHO said in a statement.
Samples taken from the case tested positive for H5N1 at the National Health Laboratory in Yangon, and the diagnosis was further confirmed at the WHO collaborating laboratory in Tokyo, the statement said.
WHO is now helping the Burmese Ministry of Health conduct investigations to confirm the source of the infection. Initial findings indicate poultry die off in the vicinity of the case's home in the week prior to the onset of illness.
To date, all identified contacts of the case remain healthy and ongoing surveillance activities in the area have not detected any further cases, WHO said.
Since 2003, 13 countries have reported 340 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, with 208 deaths, according to latest WHO figures.
Source: Xinhua
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