China investigating possible bird flu infection in 2003
July 2nd, 2006
An investigation has been started by China’s Health Ministry, to find out whether or not a man initially suspected to have died after a SARS infection, was actually suffering from bird flu, two years before the first official cases were discovered in China. Authorities were alerted by Chinese scientists, publishing their results in the June issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tests are said to be conducted on samples taken from the victim, but the ministry is denying to comment on the situation. The case already raises worrying questions over China’s ability to handle bird flu cases and give its full cooperation to international institutions such as WHO. It also brings into question the possibility that other countries may have wrongfully attributed SARS to H5N1 victims.
The man in question died in November 2003 in a hospital in Beijing. At the time, it was believed Chinese officials were involved in an attempt to cover up the rapid spread of SARS in Beijing and health experts world wide have criticized the manner in which China has dealt with the issue. The severe acute respiratory syndrome has similar symptoms with those caused by bird flu and has claimed the lives of 774 people world wide.