The health ministry of China has reported bird flu infection in a 21-year old man. The victim who had developed symptoms of fever and pneumonia on 1st April has been admitted to a hospital in the city of Wuhan. If the World Health Organization confirms the presence of bird flu infection, it would mark the 17th human case of avian influenza in the world's most populous nation.
Since 2003, nearly 194 people have been known to be infected with the deadly H5N1 virus. Out of this at least 109 have lost their lives according to official estimates of the Geneva-based WHO.Indonesia has been the worst affected by bird flu, where 31 people have been infected with the bird flu virus. Nearly 23 bird flu deaths have been reported in the region. The Indonesian government hopes to free chickens of the bird flu virus by 2008 with its improved surveillance measures. All attempts would be made to improve the eradicate the disease and improve monitoring in the world’s largest archipelago, said Anton Apriantono, Agriculture Minister.
Bird flu outbreaks have been reported in 26 of the 33 provinces in the world's fourth-most-populous nation. Although no case of human-human bird flu transmission has been reported so far, experts fear that it could pave way for mutation of the virus, sparking bird flu pandemic.
