Kathmandu, May 6 -- In a hurriedly called press conference on May 2, the Ministry of Health and Population announced that a person had died from bird flu, the first human casualty in Nepal by H5N1 virus. The 21-year-old had died on March 29, according to the ministry.

It was the first H5N1 human infection in the world since February 2017 and there were immediate concerns whether the virus was making a resurge. But the authorities concerned, it seems, are still too slow to recognise. Nor is there any preparedness to control further infection.

On Sunday, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services imparted an orientation to doctors and lab technicians to ensure surveillance of bird flu virus.

The...