KATHMANDU: Bird flu, also known as avian influenza (H5N1 influenza), has recently been determined as the cause of the death of an infected person from Kavrepalanchok district. This is the first reported avian flu casualty in the country, Ministry of Health and Population confirmed.

According to the health ministry, the 21-year-old patient whose identity has been kept under wraps, died on March 29 after having contracted the flu.

The results of the test on pathological sample extracted from the patient's body, which was received on April 30, was found to be H5N1 influenza positive. The health officials who had diagnosed bird flu as the cause of the patient's death had sent the patient's sample to Japan for further tests.

Nepal witnessed an outbreak of the disease from early March this year.

Details to follow.