Delhi's AIIMS Reports First Bird Flue Death This Year, Haryana Boy, 11

A team from the National Centre for Disease Control has been sent to the boy's village in Haryana to check for more H5N1 cases and carry out contact tracing

A 11-year-old boy from Haryana who died today at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was infected with the H5N1 virus, which is also called 'avian influenza' or 'bird flu'. This is believed to be the first case of H5N1 among humans in India, and the first bird flu death this year. A report from Pune's National Institute of Virology confirmed the infection. Sources told news agency PTI his samples tested negative for COVID-19 (testing for which is now routine at hospitals) but was positive for influenza and H5N1 was confirmed by by the NIV. Staff who came in contact with the boy, identified as Susheel and admitted July 2 with pneumonia and leukemia, have been asked to self-monitor for symptoms and report in case of a possible infection.