Saturday, March 31, 2007

Egypt: Two More Children Test Positive

 

# 611

 

The number of reported infections continues to rise in Egypt, with children being the most common victims over the past two weeks.

 

On tuesday we learned of 3 infections, 2 children and one adult.  Today, we get this report.

 

 

 

Two Egyptian children test positive for bird flu

 

CAIRO, March 31 (Reuters) - Two Egyptian children have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, bringing the total number of human cases in Egypt to 31, Egypt's Health Ministry said on Saturday.

 

A statement from the Ministry of Health said a 4-year-old boy had tested positive in the province of Qena and a 7-year-old boy had tested positive in Sohag

 

 

UPDATED INFORMATION:  0830 Hrs EDT

 

 

The Health Ministry identified the children as 4-year-old Ibrahim Mahmoud Helmy of Qena province, around 670 kilometres (416 miles) south of Cairo, and 7-year-old Mahmoud Mohamed Shalaby of Sohag province, around 467 kilometres south of Cairo. 

 

A World Health Organisation (WHO) official confirmed the two new cases.

 

Both cases were admitted to hospital on Thursday suffering from fevers after exposure to poultry, and both have been treated with the antiviral Tamiflu, the standard treatment for the symptoms of the disease, according to the statement.

 

Both were in stable condition and had been transferred to hospital in Cairo, it added.