By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on a report earlier this week, the India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the following information on investigation into the first documented case of bird flu in humans.

Indian subcontinent/CIA

The patient, an 11 -year-old child, was diagnosed with AML in June 2021 at the Department of Pediatrics , AIIMS , Delhi. Soon after the induction therapy for AML, he developed fever , cough , cold and shortness of breath. AML was diagnosed with febrile neutropenia , pneumonia that progressed to ARDS. He was admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi on 2 July 2021 . Several organs of the child stopped functioning and he died on 12 July 2021 .

Department of Microbiology AIIMS obtained Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) for respiratory panel test held on 7th and 11th July 2021 . Both Influenza A and Influenza B came positive in the sample. SARS Cov- 2 and other respiratory viruses were negative. H subtyping of influenza A 1 N 1 and H3N2 is not conclusive results. In such a situation, samples were sent to NIV on 13 July 2021.

The NIV , Influenza by Real Time PCR A and influenza B as well as influenza A seasonal (H1N1, H1N1 PDM 09 and H3N2), non-seasonal avian subtypes (H5, N7, H9 and H10) were tested both samples. The results showed that the sample A / H 5 and type B positive for the Victoria lineage. Whole genome sequencing and virus isolation is in process.

NCDC , Delhi received the information on Friday 16 July 2021 from AIIMS Delhi along with a laboratory report of NIV Pune. The information was sent to the IDSP State Surveillance Unit (SSU) Haryana to initiate an epidemiological investigation in the matter. This information was also given to the Animal Husbandry Department. A team from NCDC comprising epidemiologists and microbiologists was formed and the team immediately visited AIIMS , New Delhi and Gurugram for epidemiological assessment . Officials of the state health department and animal husbandry department have also joined the investigation.

Based on the information available , the patient’s treating doctors and nurses team are being monitored in order to detect diseases such as influenza. So far no one has shown symptoms. People coming in contact and family members , health workers are all under observation. No symptoms have been found in any close person who came in contact. Contact tracing was done in the area of ​​the hospital and the patient’s place of residence , to identify any symptomatic case. People were advised to inform the health authorities if any symptoms are observed or detected. At present, no symptoms have been detected in any person in the area.

The Animal Husbandry Department has not found any suspected case of bird flu in the area and as a precautionary measure , surveillance has been increased in the 10 km area. In addition , epidemiological investigations are underway by the NCDC involving the Animal Husbandry Department and the State Government’s surveillance unit and appropriate public health measures have been taken.