WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

[FluBossie]

WHO probes into siblings with bird flu in Egypt

3 Apr 2007 12:51:42 GMT
Source: Reuters

More GENEVA, Apr 3 (Reuters) - Human to human transmission of the H5N1 virus between a brother and sister in Egypt cannot be ruled out yet, although both siblings seem to have been exposed to sick birds, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

A four-year-old boy, from Qena province around 670 km (400 miles) south of Cairo, was among three human cases announced by the health ministry at the weekend. His six-year-old sister was one of two children diagnosed with the virus late last week.

"Human to human transmisssion cannot yet be ruled out. We are continuing investigations," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva. "But we know all the children had exposure to sick or dead birds."

In all, five Egyptian children have been reported as being in hospital in stable condition. "Egypt has an extremely good record of child survival of H5N1," Hartl added.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is not easily transmissible between people, although there has been evidence of several clusters involving human to human transmission over the past three years, according to the WHO.

Experts fear that the virus will mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a deadly pandemic which could circle the globe and kill millions.

Egypt has the highest number of confirmed human bird flu cases outside Asia. Of the 32 confirmed cases in the country to date, 13 have been fatal.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=94

[HenryN]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Keep an eye on S227N.

[HenryN]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04030701/H5N1_Qena_S227N.html

[russell family]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

whats the significance of s227n,dr niman,and is it possible the virus is getting closer to becoming a complete h2h.?

[HenryN]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

whats the significance of s227n,dr niman,and is it possible the virus is getting closer to becoming a complete h2h.?

S227N increases the efficiency of transmission to humans (it increases the affinity for human receptors and decreases the affinity for avian receptors).

However, it is easy to miss, especially if the H5N1 is grown in eggs (like bird isolates or all isolates in Indonesia).

S227N has been confirmed in Turkey and Egypt, but it is probably in the Kafr El Sheikh cluster from last year in Egypt, and the Qena cluster this year in Egypt.

It is flying arround (but being missed in collections from birds) and is a DANGEROUS component. It alone is not enough to cause a pandemic, but it is a shot across the bow, and there are many partners flying around Egypt to synergize with S227N and further increase transmission efficiencies in humans.

[HenryN]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

No human transmission in Egypt bird flu case-WHO
03 Apr 2007 16:43:16 GMT
<!-- 03 Apr 2007 16:43:16 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove-->Source: Reuters

(Updates with human transmission ruled out)
GENEVA, Apr 3 (Reuters) - Egyptian health authorities excluded the possibility of human to human transmission in the case of a brother and sister with bird flu, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.
A four-year-old boy, from Qena province around 670 km (400 miles) south of Cairo, was among three human cases announced by the health ministry at the weekend. His six-year-old sister was one of two children diagnosed with the virus late last week.
"We have heard from the Ministry of Health that human to human transmission has been ruled out," WHO spokesman Greg Hartl told Reuters.
Both of the children had been exposed to poultry infected with the H5N1 virus, the most common way in which bird flu has been spreading.
In all, five Egyptian children have been reported as being in hospital in stable condition. "Egypt has an extremely good record of child survival of H5N1," Hartl added.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is not easily transmissible between people, although there has been evidence of several clusters involving human to human transmission over the past three years, according to the WHO.
Experts fear that the virus will mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a deadly pandemic which could circle the globe and kill millions.
Egypt has the highest number of confirmed human bird flu cases outside Asia. Of the 32 confirmed cases in the country to date, 13 have been fatal.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03455232.htm

[HenryN]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

No human transmission in Egypt bird flu case-WHO
03 Apr 2007 16:43:16 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Updates with human transmission ruled out)
GENEVA, Apr 3 (Reuters) - Egyptian health authorities excluded the possibility of human to human transmission in the case of a brother and sister with bird flu, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03455232.htm

Note to reporters:

It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to rule out H2H (especially in siblings hospialized 4 days apart) and ANYONE making the claim is simply expressing "hopes and dreams" to gullible reporters (and such claims are a MAJOR red flag).

[sharon sanders]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Welcome Russell Family.

[Blue]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Yes, welcome Russell Family and thanks for asking a good question for all of us.

[russell family]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

thank you both for the very kind welcomes,ive been a visitor to the site before,but decided to join,its a really good and informative site.

[Theresa42]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Yes, nice to see you here, russell family!

[Sally Furniss]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Welcome russell family!

[Theresa42]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

Note to reporters:

It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to rule out H2H (especially in siblings hospialized 4 days apart) and ANYONE making the claim is simply expressing "hopes and dreams" to gullible reporters (and such claims are a MAJOR red flag).

Well, that was going to be my question in this case -- how would or could H2H be definitely ruled out in this case? I can't imagine how....

That's not to say that they definitely didn't both catch it from poultry living in the same house -- that's pretty likely, I can see that. But, I can only imagine how they could show a high probability that it was H2H in certain circumstances ... but I can't imagine how they can rule it out definitely. It's not logical. ??

[Niko]

Re: WHO probes into siblings with bird flu Egypt

The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is not easily transmissible between people, although there has been evidence of several clusters involving human to human transmission over the past three years, according to the WHO.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is not easily transmissible between birds and humans either. Are we to assume it is easier to catch bird flu from a bird than from another human? Undoubtedly, more is known about these sibling cases beyond what is being reported. To state "no human transmission in Egypt bird flu case" would be more credible if additional details and evidence accompanied such a statement. Some may be satisfied with such a declaration - I'm not one of them.