Posted on 06/29/2005 8:18:32 PM PDT by Flavius
ANOI (Reuters) - A 73-year-old Vietnamese has died from bird flu, taking the country's toll to 39, 19 of them since the virus returned in December, state-run media reported on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT
The Hanoi resident, one of four patients infected by the H5N1 virus under treatment in hospital, died on Tuesday after being admitted on June 23, the Lao Dong newspaper quoted hospital officials as saying.
It gave no further details of the patient and doctors at the hospital could not be reached immediately for comment.
The Health Ministry said bird flu had infected 60 people since it returned to Vietnam in December.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization repeated its warning that the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form which could pass easily between people and cause a global pandemic.
"Because influenza viruses are inclined to change frequently, WHO advises Vietnam and the rest of the world to remain vigilant in its influenza control efforts," the WHO said in a statement.
"The risk of a pandemic remains, but with further research and international collaboration, the possibility of lessening its impact is a goal that may ultimately be realized," Hans Troedsson, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said in the statement.
The virus, which arrived in Asia in late 2003, has also killed 12 Thais and four Cambodians.
Why is it that deadly bird flu always starts somewhere in Asia? Is it their management practices? We have lots of commercial fowl in this country, but you never hear of mutating bird flu in ...say....Nebraska...
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