Centre sets up 4-member committee to examine H5 avian death

In India's first such case, an 11-year-old boy reportedly died of H5 avian influenza in Gurgaon recently. Sources said that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also been asked to provide details of the case -- its complete history, progress of case, place and time of first reporting and initial findings etc among others.

New Delhi: The Centre has set up a four-member committee to examine the first-ever death due to H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in India. Official sources said that the department of animal husbandry and dairying has constituted the committee for epidemiological investigation of the matter.

An 11-year-old boy reportedly died of H5 avian influenza in Gurgaon recently. Sources said that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also been asked to provide details of the case -- its complete history, progress of case, place and time of first reporting and initial findings etc among others.

The four-member committee comprise Dr HR Khanna, Dr Vijay Teotia, a representative each from the NCDC and ICAR - National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases. The boy was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia at AIIMS last month. He suffered from multi-organ distinction and died in July 12. The bronchoalveolar lavage test of the victim turned positive for influenza A and influenza B.