The Ministry of Health in Lao People s Democratic Republic PDR reported a human case of infection with an avian influenza A H5N1 virus The case is a one year old female who developed symptoms of fever productive cough difficulty breathing and runny nose on 13 October 2020 She was hospitalized for her illness on 16 October and discharged on 19 October As part of severe acute respiratory infection SARI sentinel surveillance a specimen was collected on the date of hospitalization and confirmed to be positive for avian influenza A H5N1 on 28 October by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction RT PCR at the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology NCLE Among the close contacts of the patient one contact developed fever and cough after the onset of illness in the case Specimens collected from all household contacts including the symptomatic contact were negative for influenza A viruses