# 6186
Although Bangladesh has seen a great deal of H5N1 in poultry over the past 4 years, they have – until now – only reported 3 human infections with the avian flu virus. The first case was detected in 2008, while two additional cases were found in 2011.
All of these cases involved young toddlers (ages 15 to 39 months), and were detected via their influenza sentinel surveillance system. All three recovered.
Today an eagle-eyed Ronan Kelly on FluTrackers has picked up a report from Bangladesh’s IEDCR (Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research) – dated February 28th – that describes that country’s 4th known H5N1 detection.
Unlike the three earlier cases, this one involves an adult male. But as with the others, this patient has fully recovered.
Fourth H5N1 human case in Bangladesh
A 40 year old male has been diagnosed as fourth case of Human Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Bangladesh. This case has been reported from live bird market surveillance system in Dhaka City on 26 February 2012. This was confirmed by rRT-PCR. The patient is a live bird market worker.
The case presented with cough. Throat and nasal swabs were collected and found positive for H5N1. Presently he is free from symptom. IEDCR & ICDDR,B jointly investigating the case and monitoring the situation.
In Bangladesh the first case was detected in 2008, second and third cases were found in 2011.
Presumably the IEDCR has notified the World Health Organization, and we’ll get a confirmation in due time.
Bangladesh is somewhat unique in that all of their known H5N1 cases have recovered, while apparently experiencing only mild to moderate illness (Myanmar, with only 1 reported case, also has a 100% recovery rate).
Contrast this with Indonesia, where more than 80% of the known cases have died, or Egypt, where nearly 40% have succumbed, and it certainly begs the question; why the huge disparity?
- Is this just some sort of statistical, reporting, or surveillance fluke?
- Or is the virus circulating in Bangladesh less pathogenic to humans than the one in Indonesia?
- Or is it perhaps, the people of some regions carry higher levels of community immunity to the H5 virus?
Fascinating questions, but for now, answers remain elusive.
