Sick woman did not have bird flu, health officials say

A sick woman who had been under medical observation in Sukhothai province had ordinary influenza, not bird flu, health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirote said yesterday. The 44-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, was the only patient in the country who had recently exhibited symptoms typical of bird flu.
She was admitted to Si Sangwon hospital on Sept 24, before the current outbreak, with a fever and a cough, and was also diagnosed with a lung infection.
She recovered and was discharged from the hospital on Oct 9, he said.
She was put under medical surveillance because she lived in tambon Nernbangkan in Sawankhalok district, where poultry have died abnormally, although she had no known history of coming into contact with the birds.
The country had been officially free of bird flu for two years. The last case was confirmed in August 2006, Dr Prat said.
The ministry advised health and hospital officers in the provinces to quarantine any patients who have a fever, a cough and influenza symptoms after being in direct contact with poultry.
The bird flu outbreak in Sukhothai is now under control, official said.
Five chickens at a farm in Thung Saliam district became sick and died on Oct 27. Lab tests showed one chicken carcass was infected with the H5N1 virus subtype, which can be fatal to humans.
There have been no further cases of bird flu since the culling of 12 other chickens at the infected farm and 270 others at nearby farms to prevent the disease from spreading.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/121108_News/12Nov2008_news14.php