2004-09-10
Thailand
On 9 September 2004, the World Health Organization announced that Thailand's Ministry of Health reported one recent human death caused by influenza A (H5N1). The case was an 18-year-old male from Prachinburi Province in eastern Thailand who had been exposed to sick chickens. He was admitted to hospital on 5 September and died from acute respiratory distress on 8 September. Experts from Thailand's Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health are currently in the field investigating the source of infection.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bangkok continues to report occurrence of new outbreaks of avian influenza in Thailand to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). During the period from August 5 to September 3, 61 new outbreaks had been reported.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, a total of 4 fatal human cases of H5 infection have been reported since August 2004. Three of them have been confirmed to be caused by the H5N1 strain. These cases were reported after recurrence of H5 outbreaks in poultry in Vietnam since late June 2004.
Malaysia
Since August 2004, two outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry have been reported in Malaysia (Peninsular). The latest report from Department of Veterinary Services of Malaysia to OIE on 9 September confirmed 10 chicken and 20 quails were infected with avian influenza H5N1 in the second outbreak. 2035 birds had been destroyed. Clinical surveillance in the whole country is on going. So far, no confirmed human H5N1 infection has been reported in Malaysia.
Centre for Health Protection continues to liaise with WHO, and authorities in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia for further information and will inform the public of any important updates.