Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 - May 18, 2009

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

regarding case 63
''the suspected cases of cholera have been given the drug (Tamiflu)"

Cholera isn't treated with Tamiflu.

It's looking like a translation error. Neither systran or babylon translations come up with the word cholera.

An important consideration considering some misdiagnoses of bird flu as cholera in other countries.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04210904/H5N1_Egypt_Kellin_3.html

Commentary

Hospitalized Brother of Kellin Toddler Raises Concerns in Egypt

Recombinomics Commentary 21:56
April 21, 2009

Said Dr. Susan Abbasi - Director of Kafr El-Sheikh hospital admitted: that the hospital had received 8 cases of suspected SARS patients, including children, Amr Ibrahim Zidan - 5 years - the brother of Ibrahim al-Manar, which the girl child infected with the disease have been confirmed.

cases were 5 children and 3 women

The above translation describes the hospitalization of the brother of the 66th confirmed H5N1 case in Egypt. The siblings live in the village of Shabas Emier, which is in the Kellin district (see updated map ). The 64th confirmed case also lives in the Kellin district, raising the possibility of direct contact between these two cases, which were admitted to the Kafr El Sheikh hospital 8 days apart.

However, the infections of two cases in the same small district signal a more efficient H5N1 transmission, increasing the likelihood that the brother is also infected. Similarly, the clustering of suspect cases in the same hospital increases concerns that some or all of these cases will test positive, like 99% of the suspect cases in Egypt.

These suspect cases are in addition to the 67th confirmed case which was announced today. That case was in Sohag, where there have been no confirmed H5N1 poultry cases announced this year.

The almost daily reports of confirmed H5N1 cases, as well as the potential expansion of the Kellin clusters, continue to increase concerns.

Many of these new cases are likely linked to the deletion of position 129, S129del.

Release of the sequences from the human cases this season is long overdue.

.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases Egypt - 2009

Re: Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases Egypt - 2009

Cases #64 and #66 are from Kellin (aka Kulain) district (and brother of case #66 is hospitalize)

Initial test to confirm bird flu in the brother of #66 (Amr Ibrahim Zidan) is negative. Testing again.


http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=220274&postcount=72

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases Egypt - 2009

Re: Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases Egypt - 2009

# 52 - 2 years, female, onset date - January 9, 2009, Kerdasa district in Sixth of October governorate

# 53 - 2 years, female, onset date - January 23, 2009, Manofia Governorate, Shebin Elkom District

# 54 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 2, 2009, Suez governorate, some 120 km east of Cairo

# 55 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 7, 2009, village of Aljaddamy, Minya Governorate.

# 56 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 25, 2009, Yousef el seddik district of Fayoum Governorate

# 57 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 1, 2009, Ameriya, Alexandria governorate

# 58 - 1.5 years, female, onset date - March 6, 2009, village of metropolitan Mnov Menofia Center.

# 59 - 38 years, female, onset date - March 14, 2009, village of Al Fatah Almasrp Center Assiut Governorate

# 60 - 2.5 years, female, onset date - March 23, 2009, Nagaa' Abou Shouk village, Dandara, Qena governorate.

# 61 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 27, 2009, from Kom Hamada District, El Behira governorate

# 62 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 31, 2009, from Kom Hamada District, El Behira governorate (cousin of # 61)

# 63 - 6 years, male, onset date - March 22, 2009, from Shubra El Khema District, Al Qalyubiyah governorate. DEATH

# 64 - 33 years, female, onset date - April 7, 2009, Kafr el-Sheik province

# 65 - 25 years, female, onset date - April 6, 2009, from Al-Marg area, Cairo governorate.

# 66 - 18 mo., female, onset date - April 15, 2009, Chaabas Amir Kulain Village, Kafr el-Sheik province

# 67 - 4 years, male, onset date - April 18, 2009, Sohag governorate.

I think this quote refers to cases #64 and 65.

"...the last two cases, namely, the two women were still in critical condition and they are still on a ventilator ..."


http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=220348&postcount=2

 

[HenryN]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Date of report: 21 April 2009
Governorate: Kafr el Sheikh
District: Kellin
Event summary: Girl, age 1?, began experiencing symptoms of fever, nasal discharge and cough on April 15. She was admitted to Kafr el Sheikh Fever Hospital on April 18 and received Tamiflu the same day. Infection with avian influenza was confirmed April 19. Her mother reported a close contact with dead and/or sick poultry. The girl was reported in good general condition on April 21. The MOHP reported this was the 66th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt.
Source of report: Amr Kandeel, Undersecretary for preventative affairs, MOHP
Samir Refaie, Head of Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, MOHP. Related avian case

 

[HenryN]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Date of report: 21 April 2009
Governorate: Sohag
District: Akhmim
Event summary: Boy, age 4, began experiencing symptoms of fever and runny nose on April 18. He was admitted to Sohag Fever Hospital on April 18 and received Tamiflu the same day. Infection with avian influenza was confirmed April 21. His mother reported a close contact with a dead or sick poultry. The boy was reported in good general condition on April 21. The MOHP reported this was the 67th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt.
Source of report: Amr Kandeel, Undersecretary for preventative affairs, MOHP
Samir Refaie, Head of Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, MOHP

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Egypt: Press statement made by the Ministry of Health (4/22/2009)

Press statement made by the Ministry of Health

The bird flu human case infection no. 67 was confirmed 21/4/2009 for Ahmed Ramadan Kamal, 4 years old from Akhmem, Sohag Governorate.


The symptoms of the deadly virus appeared on him 18/4/2009 and he entered Sohag Fever Hospital on the same day while suffering from a high temperature and flu after being in contact with dead poultry suspected to be bird flu infected.

The patient has been given the Tamiflu and is now stable.
-
​

<cite cite="http://birdflu.sis.gov.eg/html/flu010232.htm">Bird Flu</cite>

 

[HenryN]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (79): EGYPT, 67TH CASE
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[1]
Date: Tue 21 Apr 2009
Source: Bloomberg News [edited]
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aBQ9cmxVYmZw>


A 6 year old boy has died in Egypt after contracting avian influenza,
becoming the country's 24th human casualty of the disease since 2006, the
state-run Middle East News Agency reported today [21 Apr 2009]. The boy is
the 1st fatality attributed to the virus in Egypt this year [2009], the
news agency quoted Abdel-Rahman Shahine, a spokesman for the Health
Ministry, as saying. The boy had shown symptoms of the virus on 22 Mar 2009
after coming in contact with dead birds, Shahine said.

Egypt has the highest number of avian flu cases outside Asia, according to
the most recent data from the World Health Organization. With the newest
reports, the number of infected people there has reached 67. The Health
Ministry reported the 67th infection earlier today [21 Apr 2009], saying a
4 year old child has contracted the virus. He was in the hospital in what
was described as stable condition. He has received Tamiflu (oseltamivir)
treatment according to Shah.

Egypt has asked WHO to help investigate an outbreak of the so-called bird
flu after a dozen non-fatal cases of the disease this year [2009] prompted
speculation the virus may be becoming less virulent [and more
transmissible. - Mod.CP]

[byline: Alaa Shahine]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall

******
[2]
Date: Tue 21 Apr 2009
Source: Egyptian Chronicles [edited]
<http://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/04/busy-sad-day-for-h5n1-in-egypt.html>


The Ministry of Health has just announced that a 6 year old child is no. 24
in the H5N1 death toll. The boy died today [21 Apr 2009]. He was from
Shubra Kheima at Qalyubia [governorate]. He began to suffer from H5N1
symptoms on 22 Mar 2009 and was admitted to hospital on 28 Mar 2009. He was
given Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and he [remained] in critical condition till
the end.

This is not the end of H5N1 news today [21 Apr 2009]. The Ministry of
Health has announced too that a 4 year old child was infected by H5N1 in
Sohag [governorate], Upper Egypt. He is no. 67. He entered the hospital on
the 18 Apr 2009 and he has received Tamiflu treatment.

[posted by Zeinobia]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall

[The death of the young child in Qalyubia governorate is the 1st fatality
in the sequence of 16 cases recorded in Egypt since the beginning of 2009.
This death weakens the argument that the outbreak virus is less virulent
than in previous years.

A map of the governorates of Egypt can be accessed at
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorates_of_Egypt>. The governorate of
Sohag, the residence of the 67th case, is located at 24 on this map and the
governorate of Qalyubia at 20. The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of
Egypt is available at <http://healthmap.org/r/009Y>. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human (78): Egypt, WHO 20090421.1506
Avian influenza, human (77): Egypt (KS) 66th case 20090420.1493
Avian influenza, human (76): Egypt (Cairo) 20090418.1472
Avian influenza, human (75): Egypt, 64th case conf 20090417.1464
Avian influenza, human (74): Egypt, 64th 20090417.1463
Avian influenza, human (73): Egypt, virulence 20090413.1411
Avian influenza, human (72): Egypt, virulence 20090412.1403
Avian influenza, human (71): Egypt, Viet Nam, WHO 20090408.1359
Avian influenza, human (70): Egypt (QL), 63rd case 20090406.1336
Avian influenza, human (69): Egypt (BH) 62nd case 20090404.1299
Avian influenza, human (66): Egypt (BH) 20090402.1271]

.................cp/mj/sh

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Reuters AlertNet - Egyptian woman dies of bird flu - MENA

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu - MENA

22 Apr 2009 20:31:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
CAIRO, April 22 (Reuters) -

A 25-year-old Egyptian woman has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the 25th human fatality of the disease in Egypt, state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.


The woman, from Cairo, died of respiratory failure, MENA reported.

On Tuesday MENA reported a six-year-old boy had died from the disease.
-
​

<cite cite="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LM640295.htm">Reuters AlertNet - Egyptian woman dies of bird flu - MENA</cite>

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/egypt-reports-25th-bird-flu-death-r1202075.htm
Egypt reports 25th bird flu death
? AP
2009-04-22 22:50:06 -

CAIRO, (AP) - An Egyptian health official says a 25 year-old woman from a northern neighborhood of Cairo has died of bird flu, the country's 25th fatality from the virus.
Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahine says Hadiya Salah Ragab was admitted to the hospital earlier this month with symptoms of the deadly H5N1 virus.
The woman, a resident of the poor Al-Murg neighborhood, was treated with the drug Tamiflu but remained in critical condition until she died Wednesday.
Shahine says Ragab contracted the virus by handling dead domestic poultry.
Her death came a day after a six-year-old boy from a different Cairo neighborhood died from the virus.
Women and children in Egypt are especially susceptible because they generally care for domestic fowl.

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu: MENA

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu: MENA

CAIRO (Reuters) ?

A 25-year-old Egyptian woman has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the 25th human fatality of the disease in Egypt, state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.


The woman, from Cairo, died of respiratory failure, MENA reported.

On Tuesday MENA reported a six-year-old boy had died from the disease. Ali Mohamed Ali Somaa from Qalyubia was Egypt's first bird flu fatality of 2009, MENA quoted a health ministry spokesman as saying.

Somaa had been admitted to hospital in late March.

Ahmed Ramadan Kamal el-Din, a 4-year-old boy from Sohag province, has contracted bird flu and was in hospital. The boy was being treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

His infection brought to 67 the number of bird flu cases in humans in the most populous Arab country, which has been hit harder by bird flu than any other country outside Asia.

Egypt has seen a surge in human cases in recent months, with 16 confirmed since the start of the year, compared to seven cases between January 1 and April 17 last year.

While the H5N1 avian influenza virus rarely infects people, experts say they fear it could mutate into a form that people could easily pass to one another, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

Most infected Egyptians had come into contact with infected domestic birds in a country where roughly 5 million households depend on domestically raised poultry as a significant source of food and income.

The World Health Organization said this month it was concerned some Egyptians may carry the bird flu virus without showing symptoms and this could give the virus more of a chance to mutate to a strain that spreads easily among humans.
-
​

<cite cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090422/sc_nm/us_birdflu_egypt">Egyptian woman dies of bird flu: MENA</cite>

 

[sharon sanders]

Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases 2009

Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases 2009

# 52 - 2 years, female, onset date - January 9, 2009, Kerdasa district in Sixth of October governorate

# 53 - 2 years, female, onset date - January 23, 2009, Manofia Governorate, Shebin Elkom District

# 54 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 2, 2009, Suez governorate, some 120 km east of Cairo

# 55 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 7, 2009, village of Aljaddamy, Minya Governorate.

# 56 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 25, 2009, Yousef el seddik district of Fayoum Governorate

# 57 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 1, 2009, Ameriya, Alexandria governorate

# 58 - 1.5 years, female, onset date - March 6, 2009, village of metropolitan Mnov Menofia Center.

# 59 - 38 years, female, onset date - March 14, 2009, village of Al Fatah Almasrp Center Assiut Governorate

# 60 - 2.5 years, female, onset date - March 23, 2009, Nagaa' Abou Shouk village, Dandara, Qena governorate.

# 61 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 27, 2009, from Kom Hamada District, El Behira governorate

# 62 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 31, 2009, from Kom Hamada District, El Behira governorate (cousin of # 61)

# 63 - 6 years, male, onset date - March 22, 2009, from Shubra El Khema District, Al Qalyubiyah governorate. DEATH

# 64 - 33 years, female, onset date - April 7, 2009, Kafr el-Sheik province

# 65 - 25 years, female, onset date - April 6, 2009, from Al-Marg area, Cairo governorate. DEATH

# 66 - 18 mo., female, onset date - April 15, 2009, Chaabas Amir Kulain Village, Kafr el-Sheik province

# 67 - 4 years, male, onset date - April 18, 2009, Akhmem, Sohag governorate.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases 2009

Re: Updated Confirmed H5N1 Cases 2009

# 52 - 2 years, female, onset date - January 9, 2009, Kerdasa district in Sixth of October governorate

# 53 - 2 years, female, onset date - January 23, 2009, Manofia Governorate, Shebin Elkom District

# 54 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 2, 2009, Suez governorate, some 120 km east of Cairo

# 55 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 7, 2009, village of Aljaddamy, Minya Governorate.

# 56 - 2 years, male, onset date - February 25, 2009, Yousef el seddik district of Fayoum Governorate

# 57 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 1, 2009, Ameriya, Alexandria governorate

# 58 - 1.5 years, female, onset date - March 6, 2009, village of metropolitan Mnov Menofia Center.

# 59 - 38 years, female, onset date - March 14, 2009, village of Al Fatah Almasrp Center Assiut Governorate

# 60 - 2.5 years, female, onset date - March 23, 2009, Nagaa' Abou Shouk village, Dandara, Qena governorate.

# 61 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 27, 2009, from Kom Hamada District, El Behira governorate

# 62 - 2 years, male, onset date - March 31, 2009, from Kom Hamada District, El Behira governorate (cousin of # 61)

# 63 - 6 years, male, onset date - March 22, 2009, from Shubra El Khema District, Al Qalyubiyah governorate. DEATH

# 64 - 33 years, female, onset date - April 7, 2009, Kellin district, Kafr el-Sheik province

# 65 - 25 years, female, onset date - April 6, 2009, from Al-Marg area, Cairo governorate. DEATH

# 66 - 18 mo., female, onset date - April 15, 2009, Chaabas Amir Kulain Village, Kellin district, Kafr el-Sheik province

# 67 - 4 years, male, onset date - April 18, 2009, Akhmem, Sohag governorate.

Case #64 and #66 are from Kellin district.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

The death of new cases of bird flu
Died yesterday gift Salah Rajab, 25 years after being infected with bird flu, bringing the death toll to 25 since the disease appeared in Egypt, is a gift from the prairie province of the population of Cairo is the second death this year, has been the disease on April 6 the current after exposure to dead birds infected with the disease
http://www.ahram.org.eg/Index.asp?CurFN=fron15.htm&DID=9926

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Declaration No. 25 the event of death from bird flu in Egypt



CAIRO (Reuters) - The state news agency MENA reported on Wednesday that the Egyptian woman, aged 25 years died as a result of the bird strain (H 5 to 1) of the bird flu virus to become the No. 25 the event of death the disease in Egypt.

The agency said the woman died from Cairo, "Following the failure of breathing."

According to the agency on Tuesday quoted a spokesman for the Ministry of Health that a child is a six-year-old died of the disease. And Ali Muhammad Ali is the reputation of the province Qaliubiya first death from bird flu in Egypt in the year 2009.

And entered the reputation of the hospital in late March. The wounded child Kamaluddin Ahmed Ramadan, four-year-old from Sohag Governorate of bird flu and was admitted to the hospital. Children were treated with Tamiflu anti-flu virus.

And raised a number of human cases of bird flu in the most populous Arab country to 67 cases.

Egypt witnessed a surge in human cases in recent months has been confirmed in 16 people infected since the beginning of the year, compared with seven cases in the first of January and April 17 last year.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/ara/news/in...ect=143&sid=10606203&cKey=1240436697000&ty=ti

 

[HenryN]

Re: Egypt Human Suspected/Confirmed Cases April 9, 2009 +

Re: Egypt Human Suspected/Confirmed Cases April 9, 2009 +

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_23a/en/index.html

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 13

23 April 2009 -- The Ministry of Health of Egypt has reported a new confirmed human case of avian influenza . The case is a 4 year old male from Akhmim District, Sohag Governorate. His symptoms began on 18 April and he was hospitalized at Sohag Fever Hospital on 18 April where he was started on oseltamivir. He is in a stable condition.

Infection with H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory on 21 April and subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3).

Investigations into the source of his infection indicate a history of close contact with dead and sick poultry prior to becoming ill.

Of the 67 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 have been fatal.

 

[Labrador - Sadie]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu
Sapa-AFP Published:Apr 23, 2009


CAIRO, Egypt — A 25-year-old Egyptian woman has died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the 25th reported death from the disease since it broke out in the country in 2006, official news agency MENA reported.

* Second bird flu death in China


* Thailand issues bird flu warning
(The 2 *s above were links to other stories.)


It is the second death in Egypt from bird flu this year.


The woman, who lived in Cairo, died from respiratory failure caused by the disease, which she is believed to have contracted from close contact with infected poultry, MENA cited health ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shahin as saying.


Shahin announced on Tuesday the death of a six-year-old boy from bird flu.


Most of the victims in Egypt have been young girls or women, who are generally in charge of looking after poultry in rural areas.


The World Health Organisation called last month for an investigation into why many of the victims have been young children.


The organisation estimates that the H5N1 strain of the virus has killed around 250 people since 2003, mainly in Southeast Asia.

Link: http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=986432

 

[Labrador - Sadie]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Egypt reports 25th death of bird flu


www.chinaview.cn 2009-04-23 06:09:27

CAIRO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A 25 year-old Egyptian woman has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus on Wednesday, bringing the number of such deaths to 25 in the populous country, said the Health Ministry.

Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahine said that HadiyaSalah Ragab, who comes from Al-Murg neighborhood in Cairo, was admitted to the hospital earlier this month and treated with the drug Tamiflu but remained in critical condition until she died Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the ministry said that Ali Mahmoud Ali, who comes from northern Egyptian governorate of Qalyubiya, some 40 km north of Cairo, was admitted to hospital on March 28, and died on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, another official from the Health Ministry said on Tuesday that another four-year-old boy Ahmed Ramadan Kamal Adean, from Sohag in south of Cairo, contracted the virus, bringing the human cases of the fatal avian influenza to 67.

Egypt is the most affected country by the deadly avian influenza outside Asia. It reported its first H5N1 virus in dead poultry in February 2006 and the first human case in March of the same year.

Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/23/content_11238588.htm

 

[Labrador - Sadie]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

(Rueters Article)

UPDATE 1 - Egyptian woman dies of bird flu - MENA
Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:45pm BST Egypt's 25th bird flu death

* Six-year-old's death from bird flu reported on Tuesday

* A 4-yr-old boy has contracted bird flu
(Adds details, background)

CAIRO, April 22 (Reuters) - A 25-year-old Egyptian woman has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the 25th human fatality of the disease in Egypt, state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.

The woman, from Cairo, died of respiratory failure, MENA reported.

On Tuesday MENA reported a six-year-old boy had died from the disease. Ali Mohamed Ali Somaa from Qalyubia was Egypt's first bird flu fatality of 2009, MENA quoted a health ministry spokesman as saying.

Somaa had been admitted to hospital in late March.

Ahmed Ramadan Kamal el-Din, a 4-year-old boy from Sohag province, has contracted bird flu and was in hospital. The boy was being treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

His infection brought to 67 the number of bird flu cases in humans in the most populous Arab country, which has been hit harder by bird flu than any other country outside Asia.

Egypt has seen a surge in human cases in recent months, with 16 confirmed since the start of the year, compared to seven cases between Jan. 1 and April 17 last year.

While the H5N1 avian influenza virus rarely infects people, experts say they fear it could mutate into a form that people could easily pass to one another, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

Most infected Egyptians had come into contact with infected domestic birds in a country where roughly 5 million households depend on domestically raised poultry as a significant source of food and income.

The World Health Organisation said this month it was concerned some Egyptians may carry the bird flu virus without showing symptoms and this could give the virus more of a chance to mutate to a strain that spreads easily among humans.




Link: http://uk.reuters.com/article/americasCrisis/idUKLM402988

 

[HenryN]

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Re: Egypt - Confirmed H5N1 in Humans April 15, 2009 +

Egyptian woman contracts bird flu as cases mount
23 Apr 2009 19:42:59 GMT
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.

Egyptian woman contracts bird flu as cases mount
CAIRO, April 23 (Reuters) - An Egyptian woman has contracted the highly pathogenic bird flu virus after coming into contact with infected birds, state news agency MENA said on Thursday, as the virus gathers pace in the most populous Arab country. The case brings to 68 the number of people confirmed to have contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Egypt, harder hit by bird flu than any other country outside of Asia. Egypt has seen a surge of cases in recent weeks, with eight new human infections in April alone -- the same number as in all of 2008. Two have died. Most of the Egyptians infected this year have been young children. While the avian influenza virus rarely infects people, experts say they fear it could mutate into a form that people could easily pass to one another, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions. MENA said the woman, from Tanta in the Nile Delta, fell ill with a high fever on Tuesday and was hospitalised the same day and treated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. She was in a stable condition, MENA reported. Since 2003, H5N1 has infected more than 400 people in 15 countries and killed more than 250. It has killed or forced the culling of more than 300 million birds in 61 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Some 25 Egyptians have died after contracting the virus. Most of those infected had come into contact with infected domestic birds in a country where roughly 5 million households depend on domestically raised poultry as a significant source of food and income. The World Health Organisation said this month it was concerned some Egyptians may carry the bird flu virus without showing symptoms, and this could give the virus more of a chance to mutate to a strain that spreads easily among humans. Whether such cases exist will be the focus of a planned Egyptian government study, backed by the global health body. (Writing by Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Louise Ireland)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LI180860.htm