Nepal finds suspected human infection of bird flu

KATHMANDU, Jan. 25 (Chinese media) -- Nepal has found a

patient from Damak, eastern Nepal, to be suspected case of human bird flu

infection, Nepali national news agency RSS reported on Sunday.

Damak of Jhapa district is some 320 km east of Nepali

capital Kathmandu. In mid-January, the first case of bird flu in poultry was

detected in Kakarbhitta of the same district.

According to the report, bird flu has been suspected

to have infected Santosh Dahal from Damak who was taken to nearby BP Koirala

Institute for Health Sciences (BPKIHS) in Dharan. Communication spokesperson for

BPKIHS Bijay Rimal said bird flu virus has been suspected to have been found in

Dahal's blood sample during test in institute's laboratory.

He said Dahal's blood sample has been sent for

further tests in a sophisticated laboratory. He said Dahal was showing symptoms

of bird flu infection. The BPKIHS however did not reveal where Dahal's blood

sample was sent.

Rimal, however, said it cannot be officially

confirmed whether Dahal is infected with bird flu yet as the institute lacked a

specific lab to test bird flu. Dahal was referred to Dharan by Lifeline Hospital

in Damak following three-day treatment there.