CHINA: China asks for help from World Health Organization as it reports "suspect positive" test for H5N1 virus in a nine-year-old boy

Record ID: 1374304

  • Title: CHINA: China asks for help from World Health Organization as it reports "suspect positive" test for H5N1 virus in a nine-year-old boy
  • Date: 7th November 2005
  • Summary: EXTERIOR OF YUEGEZHANG POULTRY MARKET IN BEIJING PAINTED MURAL OF POULTRY
  • Embargoed: 1st December 2005 23:18
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVADN7AUBUDK6TF3UPTMKLL8AHEZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday (November 7, 2005) confirmed that China had asked it to help probe a possible human case of bird flu.
    China has yet to report any human cases of bird flu, but on Sunday (November 6) said it would invite WHO experts to investigate three suspicious cases of pneumonia in Hunan province, the site of one of the recent outbreaks of bird flu.
    State media on Sunday said tests on the three did not show the presence of H5N1, but WHO on Monday said the brother of a 12-year-old girl who died of pneumonia revealed a "suspicious positive".
    "What China has done is to continue that investigation and to continue to take tests and now they're reporting that on the nine-year-old boy there is something that is called the "suspicious positive", that is not a confirmation at this stage, but it does require further investigation and they've requested assistance from the WHO with this ongoing investigation," said Dr Julie Hall of the WHO in China.
    Authorities have placed 192 people in Hunan, one of whom has acute bronchitis, under medical observation, the China Daily said.
    They all had contact either with the three pneumonia cases or dead birds.
    Hall said the WHO was encouraged by China's request for assistance.
    "We're obviously working closely with the government on this issue. It is complicated, there are now three cases under investigation. We're pleased that the government has requested assistance from us and will be working in partnership with them on a joint investigation to be able to provide further information," said Hall.
    Hall said China - criticised for its attempts to cover up the SARS outbreak in 2003 - had shown it was willing to tackle avian flu.
    "These things are complex, these things are difficult, but I think there is a commitment on behalf of the government to respond effectively to the problems of avian influenza and to engage with the international community to help with this global effort to contain avian influenza in the animals and to prepare for any potential influenza pandemic in the future," said Hall.
    Meanwhile, Beijing's poultry markets were emptied of livestock on Monday as the authorities stepped up prevention measures against the disease.
    At Yuegezhang market, thousands of poultry cages stood empty after the government banned the sale of live poultry.
    Stall holders were left with nothing to do but play chess on empty cages.
    "There will be losses of course, I am sure since we are not allowed to stock live poultry and we cannot sell chickens," said stall holder Xiang Baolong.
    Another said despite the hardships, he supported the government ban.
    "I approve of the government measures and its decisions. We should be concerned about the general picture and if there a bird flu outbreak there will be a problem, it will be really bad," said chicken seller Che Hanjun.
    Meanwhile, in Liaoning province, authorities have culled 6 million birds following an outbreak of avian flu.
    All poultry within a 3-km (2-mile) radius of the site in Liaoning province where the deadly H5N1 virus was found last week had been killed.
    Experts say the virus must be stopped in poultry to prevent more people catching it and nowhere is that fight more crucial than in densely populated Asia, where farmers and city dwellers live side-by-side with poultry and other livestock.
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