.
Hospitalization of Relatives of H5N1 Bird Flu Fatality in Surat India
Recombinomics Commentary
February 20, 2006
The mother and brother of a 27-year-old man, who the authorities said died of "acute respiratory distress" and not because of Bird Flu, have shown symptoms of mild flu and have been hospitalised here.
Ganesh Bhai Ramesh Bhai Sonar, who hailed from Navapur, died yesterday in a hospital in neighbouring Surat and officials said his death was due to acute respiratory distress and was not related to the avian influenza.
They said he had "no exposure to poultry". Ramesh Sonar, father of Ganesh, said today that his wife and another son, who were with the deceased when he was admitted to the hospital in Surat, have shown some symptoms of mild flu and have been hospitalised here.
The hospitalization of relatives of the suspected fatal bird flu case in western India is cause for concern. Initial media reports indicated that the index case tested positive for bird flu. Later reports indicated he was not a bird flu case because of a lack of contact with birds.
Bird flu is widespread in the area (see map) and dead crows with H5N1 symptoms were reported in Mumbai last year. Historically, India has denied H5N1 in poultry and people, even though poultry workers had H5N1 antibodies and the H5N1 positive bar-headed geese at Qinghai Lake winter in India.
More details on testing of the deceased patients and relatives would be useful. Nose and throat swabs of H5N1 patients in acute respiratory distress are frequently negative.
Map
Media Sources