January 19, 2004

Vietnam Report Five Additional Human Bird Flu Cases

Five more suspected human bird flu cases were reported in Vietnam on Saturday.

In addition, fourth death case caused by the fatal disease was confirmed.

The latest fatality in Vietnam was a five-year-old boy from Nam Dinh province, 100 kilometres south of Hanoi, who died Jan. 8., said WHO spokesman Bob Dietz.

Increased numbers of people are being hospitalized with respiratory problems, although it was unclear whether they are linked to bird flu, he added.

"We believe we are seeing more cases of respiratory illness" coming into two hospitals in Hanoi, Dietz said.