# 7091
While our attention is understandably focused on the emerging H7N9 virus in China, the H5N1 virus continues to circulate in birds, and occasionally infect humans, as well.
Earlier this week we learned of a new Cambodian infection (see Meanwhile, Cambodia Reports Their 10th H5N1 Case) and today, Bangladesh’s IEDCR reports on a toddler who died in February, but was just now diagnosed as having the virus.
While Bangladesh has reported six previous H5N1 cases, quite unusually, all were relatively mild and all survived. This becomes Bangladesh’s first known bird flu fatality. A hat tip to Giuseppe Michieli and Biological on FluTrackers for posting the story.
Seventh H5N1 case in Bangladesh
The seventh case of Influenza A (H5N1) has been confirmed from one of our surveillance sites. Diagnosis was made on the basis of Real time RT-PCR.
This was a 1 year 11 months old male child from Chauddogram, Comilla. He was admitted to Comilla Medical College Hospital, later transferred to Dhaka Shishu Hospital and then to a private clinic. He died on 18th February, 2013. This is the first death case of H5N1 in Bangladesh. As this child had no typical features of Influenza Like Illness (ILI), throat and nasal samples were sent for reconfirmation to CDC Atlanta, USA (WHO reference laboratory) and received confirmation on 6th April, 2013.
Detailed outbreak investigation was conducted. There was strong epidemiological link with backyard poultry deaths. No other case was found among contacts during the investigation.
