Suspect H5N1 Patient In Bangladesh Quarantined
Recombinomics Commentary 20:11
March 7, 2008
A poultry farmer was quarantined at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as doctors suspect that he might be infected with bird flu virus.
Ashraf Hossain, 32, of Terokhadia Pashchimpara in Rajshahi was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday as he showed multiple symptoms of the disease. His blood sample was sent to Dhaka for test.
The above comments describe a suspect H5N1 case in Bangladesh. Such a case would not be a surprise. Recent culling efforts in Bangladesh have been high, reflecting the continuing spread of the virus (see satelite maps here here here).
Late last year, H5N1 was confirmed in Pakistan, and it is likely that the H5N1 in Pakistan and Bangladesh is clade 2.2.3. In 2006, the clade 2.2.3 in Azerbaijan resulted in multiple clusters.
Although neighboring West Bengal did not have any confirmed cases, many villagers had mild symptoms and testing in India remains suspect.
More information on the suspect case in Bangladesh would be useful.
Media Links
Recombinomics Presentations
Recombinomics Publications
Recombinomics Paper at Nature Precedings