Bird flu may be transmitted between humans

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry was on full alert Saturday amongst the possible first case of bird flu transmission between humans.

The latest suspected victim of the disease was the mother of an 11-year-old girl who died on Sept 12 after developing bird flu-like symptoms, the Bangkok Post reported Saturday. The woman died of similar symptoms eight days after visiting her daughter. Two other family members, an aunt and a three-year-old child, are now suffering from fever and influenza.Acting Health Secretary Dr. Charal Trinvudhipong said a team of epidemiologists will closely monitor the surviving family members.”The deaths in Kamphaeng Phet are very interesting because neither the mother of the dead girl or her aunt have risk behaviors which can lead to infection except they were close to a patient with bird flu-like symptoms,” Charal said. “Health authorities are awaiting the outcome of lab test results, especially from the aunt to show if bird flu has mutated and changed into a form that can pass between humans,” he said.(source: United Press, Sept 2004)