NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Newly Confirmed Cases Boost Human Bird Flu Toll

Further analysis of two Indonesian cases confirms H5N1, United Nations reports

Cases of illness in Indonesia that occurred earlier in 2006 now are being confirmed as human cases of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) September 14.

One of the cases involved a 27-year-old male who might have been infected while caring for a 15-year-old sister confirmed in May to have H5N1.

The man from the West Sumatra province developed mild symptoms of cough and abdominal discomfort, but not the high fever that has stricken many people infected with this virus. He was given a course of an anti-viral drug that has proven effective against H5N1, and recovered.

Testing conducted at the time did not reveal signs of H5N1 infection, but follow-up testing in August showed an increased level of antibodies that meets the criteria for laboratory confirmation under standards revised by WHO.

"The investigation determined that he had exposure to his sister during her hospital stay," said the WHO September 14 report, "and that human-to-human transmission could not be ruled out as the source of his infection."

The overwhelming majority of confirmed human cases of this highly pathogenic form of avian influenza - now numbering 246 - have been traced to direct contact with poultry.

The cases in which human-to-human transmission is suspected have been limited to close contacts among ailing family members.

International health authorities are concerned that the H5N1 virus might mutate to become easily transmissible among people, a development that could lead to a human disease pandemic.

The second human case of H5N1 newly confirmed by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and WHO involved a 5-year-old boy in West Java province. He died in March after about a two-week illness.

Confirmation of his case also comes after re-evaluation of test results in keeping with WHO's revision of its standards for identifying cases.

The U.N. health agency changed its standards August 29 to ensure the use of standardized language for communication among health authorities dealing with the avian influenza outbreaks at different times and in different places.

Of the 246 confirmed human cases of H5N1, 144 have ended in death, according to cumulative reports compiled by WHO. The cases have occurred in 10 countries; Indonesia has reported more deaths than any other country.

The high level of concern that H5N1 could be the trigger for a global human pandemic has prompted a coordinated international effort to contain and control the spread of this virus and to bolster animal and human health systems in the most vulnerable countries.

The United States has been a leading nation in this effort, dedicating more than $330 million to an array of activities in more than 45 countries. (See fact sheet.)

Source: U.S. Department of State