A youth of Kavre is confirmed to have died from avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, caused by H5N1 virus.
The cause of the 21-year-old's death on April 8 was not known earlier. The youth, who was suffering from coughing and other problems related to breathing, had breathed his last in the course of treatment.
The saliva of the patient was sent to Japan for tests which confirmed that the youth has died from avian influenza, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.
However, the identity of the deceased is not yet disclosed. "This is the first known case of human fatality from H5N1 virus in Nepal," Spokesperson at the Health Ministry Mahendra Prasad Shrestha told Setopati. Shrestha refused to divulge whether the youth worked in poultry farm or had in any way come in contact with live or dead infected birds.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states there is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly prepared and thoroughly cooked food.