Boy, 11, reportedly dies of bird flu at AIIMS Delhi

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to trouble the country, an 11-year-old boy died of bird flu or H5N1 in AIIMS, Delhi, sources informed.

According to sources, the patient was admitted to the hospital on July 2. He is said to be from outside Delhi.

The hospital staff that came in contact with the boy has been isolated.

"The 12-year-old boy being treated at the hospital`s D5 ward was found to be infected with H5N1 (Avian flu) after the diagnosis. The boy was suffering from leukemia and pneumonia. He was under treatment and admitted to the ICU of AIIMS in Delhi," AIIMS officials were quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

As per reports, bird flu outbreaks were reported across the country earlier this year, including in Haryana where the H5N8 subtype -- which is not known to infect humans -- was detected.

A sample collected from the Red Fort had tested positive for bird flu in January. The Delhi government had then ordered the closure of the Ghazipur poultry market.

More samples collected from the Delhi zoo had returned positive in February.

According to the World Health Organisation, human cases of bird flu occur "occasionally" but when they do happen, the mortality rate is about 60 per cent.