Azeri Doctors Blame Bird Flu for Death of 2 Girls

Photo from www.dni.ru

MosNews

Two girls from a family hospitalized on suspicion of contracting bird flu have died in Azerbaijan, Interfax news agency reported.

Six members of their family were rushed to a hospital earlier this month. “Those hospitalized have been diagnosed with acute pneumonia, but the cases arouse a great deal of suspicion,” Azerbaijan’s Deputy Health Minister Abbas Velibekov said. Girls, the daughters of the head of the family, died few days ago, he reported.

Experts continue laboratory tests. Blood samples have also been sent to London.

The family lives in Azerbaijan’s Salyany district and keeps poultry.

Azerbaijan, which lies at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, discovered the H5N1 strain of bird flu among wild birds last month. Bird flu has since affected a poultry farm near the capital Baku.