Bird flu claims another human life
The World Health Organization said Wednesday Indonesia has confirmed a 20-month-old Indonesian girl has died of the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
The latest case brings the total number of humans infected with the virus in Indonesia to 30, of which 23 were fatal.
The case was reported in a town near West Jakarta. The girl was hospitalized March 17 after she developed symptoms of fever and cough and she died March 23, the Switzerland-based WHO said.
Field investigation found a history of deaths in a chicken flock near the girl's home about one week prior to the girl becoming ill, the report said. The girl's family members and neighbors have been placed under observation.
In Egypt, the WHO said, four patients previously reported to the health agency, were confirmed as bird flu virus cases. Two of them died while the other two have since recovered and discharged from hospital. A fifth patient remains hospitalized but her diagnosis is not complete.
Egypt is the ninth country to report laboratory-confirmed human cases in the current outbreak, which began in Vietnam in December 2003.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
