Fourteenth victim of bird flu this year dies in Vietnam

VIETNAMESE officials confirmed yesterday that a 69-year-old man has died from bird flu, the 14th person to die from the disease this year.

The man, from northern Thai Binh province, was admitted to the provincial hospital on February 19 with classic bird flu symptoms of high fever and breathing difficulties, said Pham Van Diu, director of Thai Binh Provincial Preventive Medicine Centre.

Samples taken from the man, who died on Wednesday, tested positive for the H5N1 virus, Diu said.