Dec 17, 2007 (DVB), The Burmese Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of human infection with bird flu in the country, according to the World Health Organisation.
Tests were carried out on 26 November by the public health laboratory in Rangoon on four people suspected to have contracted the virus, according to Burmese state media.
The tests showed that Ma Nan Kham Than, a seven-year-old girl from Kyaing Tone township in Shan state (East), was infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
This diagnosis was confirmed by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, a WHO partner centre in Japan, on 13 December.
Ma Nan Kham Than was admitted to hospital on 27 November, and has now recovered after treatment.
Officials from the Burmese Ministry of Health and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries are now working with the WHO country office to establish the source of Ma Nan Kham Than's infection.
Monitoring of the area has not so far revealed any other cases.
Reporting by DVB
