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AFMIC Infectious Disease Alert -- Iraq/Negative H5N1
Iraq
Date: Mid January 2007
Disease: H5N1 avian influenza -- NOT
Location: Erbil
Summary: The U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU-3) has confirmed samples from an Arbil (Erbil) teenage male who died in mid-January and was suspected to have highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (AI) are negative for the disease. The results indicated an influenza A virus, but were negative for both the H5 and N1 genes. The patient died in Kou Senjaq, a town near Arbil in northern Iraq, on 13 January 2007.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health originally reported this patient had tested positive for H5 influenza (subtype unknown) by polymerase chain reaction testing in Baghdad. Personnel from NAMRU-3, a World Health Organization (WHO) reference laboratory, will work closely with Iraqi authorities to determine why initial false positive test results occurred. No other suspected or confirmed human AI cases or poultry outbreaks have been associated with this patient.
In 2006, the WHO confirmed three human highly pathogenic H5N1 AI cases (two deaths) in Iraq. The first case occurred in a 15-year-old girl from As Sulaymaniyah Governorate on 17 January 2006. One week later, the girl's uncle was recorded as the second case; both cases were fatal. The third case was reported in a 3-year-old boy from Baghdad. The boy became infected in March 2006 and reportedly recovered. Prior to these cases, there had been no reports of infected birds, possibly indicating the absence of an effective animal surveillance program. After identification of the human cases, infected birds were discovered in the vicinity and were culled. In all three cases, the individuals had contact with backyard birds, the presumed source of infection.
Assessment: AFMIC assesses no human H5N1 AI cases have been confirmed in Iraq since March 2006. This recent patient was not infected with H5N1 AI, although the exact cause of death remains unknown. AI may be occurring sporadically among poultry in Iraq, particularly among backyard birds. No poultry outbreaks are currently being reported in the region; however, an effective poultry AI surveillance program does not exist there.
Potential Risk to U.S. Personnel: At present, risk to U.S. forces in the region is unchanged and remains minimal. During H5N1 AI outbreaks among birds, extremely rare cases could occur in U.S. personnel who have close contact with infected birds or poultry.
AFMIC Infectious Disease Alert -- Iraq/Negative H5N1
Iraq
Date: Mid January 2007
Disease: H5N1 avian influenza -- NOT
Location: Erbil
Summary: The U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU-3) has confirmed samples from an Arbil (Erbil) teenage male who died in mid-January and was suspected to have highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (AI) are negative for the disease. The results indicated an influenza A virus, but were negative for both the H5 and N1 genes. The patient died in Kou Senjaq, a town near Arbil in northern Iraq, on 13 January 2007.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health originally reported this patient had tested positive for H5 influenza (subtype unknown) by polymerase chain reaction testing in Baghdad. Personnel from NAMRU-3, a World Health Organization (WHO) reference laboratory, will work closely with Iraqi authorities to determine why initial false positive test results occurred. No other suspected or confirmed human AI cases or poultry outbreaks have been associated with this patient.
In 2006, the WHO confirmed three human highly pathogenic H5N1 AI cases (two deaths) in Iraq. The first case occurred in a 15-year-old girl from As Sulaymaniyah Governorate on 17 January 2006. One week later, the girl's uncle was recorded as the second case; both cases were fatal. The third case was reported in a 3-year-old boy from Baghdad. The boy became infected in March 2006 and reportedly recovered. Prior to these cases, there had been no reports of infected birds, possibly indicating the absence of an effective animal surveillance program. After identification of the human cases, infected birds were discovered in the vicinity and were culled. In all three cases, the individuals had contact with backyard birds, the presumed source of infection.
Assessment: AFMIC assesses no human H5N1 AI cases have been confirmed in Iraq since March 2006. This recent patient was not infected with H5N1 AI, although the exact cause of death remains unknown. AI may be occurring sporadically among poultry in Iraq, particularly among backyard birds. No poultry outbreaks are currently being reported in the region; however, an effective poultry AI surveillance program does not exist there.
Potential Risk to U.S. Personnel: At present, risk to U.S. forces in the region is unchanged and remains minimal. During H5N1 AI outbreaks among birds, extremely rare cases could occur in U.S. personnel who have close contact with infected birds or poultry.
