Avian influenza - situation in Bangladesh

28 May 2008 -- The Ministry of Health, Bangladesh has confirmed its first case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza. The case was identified retrospectively as part of seasonal surveillance activities run by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB).

The case is a 16-month-old male from Komalapur, Dhaka. He developed symptoms on 27th January 2008 and subsequently recovered. The case was confirmed as being infected with A(H5N1) by the WHO H5 Reference Laboratory, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The case was exposed to live and slaughtered chickens at his home. Specimens have been collected from his family members and neighbours. All remain healthy to date.