In the Mainland, a new fatal case of human infection with the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus was confirmed. The case was a 16-year-male from Anhui province. He developed fever and pneumonia-like symptoms on 17 March, was hospitalized on 20 March, and died on 27 March. There was no initial indication to suggest that he had contact with sick birds prior to becoming unwell. Close contacts had been placed under medical observation and all remained well. Of the 24 cases confirmed to date in the Mainland, 15 had been fatal.

In Indonesia, 3 more deaths due to Avian Influenza were reported from East Java, West Sumatra and Jakarta. The deaths brought Indonesia's confirmed human death toll to 71.

In Ca Mau province of Vietnam, an outbreak of Avian Influenza was reported with more than 100 ducks had died of the disease.

The health official of Egypt had announced 3 new human cases of Avian Influenza in the past few days. All victims were children. They were hospitalised and remained in a stable condition. They all had history of contact with poultry or sick birds. Of the 29 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 had been fatal.

In Parkistan, 1 new case of Type 3 Poliomyelitis was reported in the past week from Balochistan, right across the border with northern Sindh. Pakistan's most recent case had onset of paralysis on 24 February 2007.

In Vietnam, approximately 5 000 cases of Dengue Fever were reported so far. Most of the cases occurred in Southern provinces. It was expected that cases in Northern provinces would increase later this year.

In Malaysia, 12 086 cases of suspected Dengue Fever infection were reported by the Health Ministry. Subang Jaya recorded 1 023 suspected Dengue cases with 5 deaths, followed by Shah Alam, which recorded 711 cases.

In the Philippines, 256 cases of Dengue Fever were reported as of March this year. Cases in Bukidnon province reached a 5-year record high during the period despite a declining trend in other provinces.

The number of Dengue Fever cases in Sao Paulo state of Brazil was increasing. As of 18 March 2007, the number of Dengue Fever cases was 7 808 throughout the state since 1 January 2007.

Bolivia's National Tropical Diseases Center confirmed 910 cases of Dengue since January 2007. Majority of cases occurred in the eastern province of Santa Cruz.

Nicaragua was on an epidemiologic alert after the deaths of 2 children with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and the detection of another 20 cases of Dengue Fever.

In Paraguay, there might be 400 000 infected cases of Dengue Fever while officially there were 22 000 cases including 17 deaths due to Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.

In Mexico, 1 589 Dengue cases were registered in January and February 2007, a nearly 4-fold increase compared to the same period of last year.

In Liberia, an outbreak of Cholera affecting several people with 2 deaths was reported in Grand Cape Mount County.

In Luanda, the capital of Angola, 90 cases of Cholera were reported in the last three days in the districts of Sambizanga, Cacuaco and Cazenga,

In Rwanda, an outbreak of Cholera affecting at least 55 people with no death was reported in Western Province.

At least 8 people had died of Plague in Endoji Village of Mbulu District of Tanzania. The deadly disease was spread by rodents, which had multiplied in large numbers in the area. Villagers were called to keep their surroundings clean to help controlling the disease.

Notification of 3 new cases of Type 1 Poliomyelitis was received, all from Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Notification of a new case of Type 1 Poliomyelitis was received from Togdher province of Somalia.