Nepal confirms first death related to avian flu

By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu: Nepal health authorities on Thursday confirmed the first death related to avian flu in the country.

A 21-year-old man died due to H5N1 influenza at Kavre district, situated 75 km east of Kathmandu, Health Ministry spokesperson Mahendra Shrestha said.

The man, who was admitted to a hospital for treatment of influenza, died on March 29, he said.

After doctors in Nepal failed to confirm the type of his influenza virus, samples were sent to a laboratory in Japan.

"Tests from the Japanese laboratory confirmed that the person was infected with (avian) influenza A (H5N1)," Shrestha said.