Tuesday, February 03, 2015

Egyptian MOH Statement On H5N1

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# 9665

 

While Egypt’s H5N1 outbreak (in poultry & humans) apparently continues, their reporting of cases changed both in style and frequency a little over 10 days ago. 

 

Until January 22nd (see Egypt’s MOH Confirms 21st H5N1 Case) official announcements usually followed press reports within 24-48 hours, closely matched the media reports, and always included a YTD total (cases, fatalities, under treatment & recovered)

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After announcing 50+ cases in just over 2 months, MOH announcements have abruptly become less frequent, often don’t include all of the cases we’ve seen mentioned in the media, and no longer provide any sort of YTD accounting.

 

Whether this represents some sudden slowdown in human infections after two hectic months, or simply a desire to keep the incessant drumbeat of new case announcements off the front page, is impossible to tell.  Hopefully we’ll get another update from the World Health Organization that will clarify matters.

 

We still see media reports of cases, declarations of `bird flu emergencies’  by individual Governorates, the creation (with much fanfare) of emergency committees, and promises of government action – all suggesting the outbreak continues – but very little in the way of official acknowledgement of cases. 

 

A week ago media reports had the total for the year at 31 cases, with 10 deaths, but the reliability of that number is unknown.  Since then, few media stories have included any sort of tally.

 

All of which leaves us without a clear idea of the current size, or trajectory, of their ongoing H5N1 outbreak. 

 

What we do have today is a short announcement of a single H5N1 infection (and 3 recoveries) – the first official statement on H5N1 from the MOH in a week.

 

 

Health: central laboratory analysis results confirm positive H5N1 infection بڤيروس

The Ministry of health and population, wounding confirmed بڤيروس H5N1 (bird flu): the case of 13-year-old girl from Qena Governorate, is still under treatment in hospital fevers Qena.

It also announced the heal-three and out is an old lady, a 47-year-old from Minya Province Department of Beni Mazar, Lady 35-year-old from Minya governorate of Minia, management and a 42-year-old from Eastern Province of Department hehia.

Therefore calls upon the Ministry of health and population of citizens who handle poultry to go immediately to the nearest hospital to receive health service if they have flu symptoms, where the infected bird flu drug Tamiflu within the first 24 hours of the onset of symptoms increases the healing rates of disease and reduces the mortality and Health Ministry advised people who deal with poultry to be careful and prudent when dealing with birds that show symptoms of the disease and the need to take preventive action to prevent such infection cover The mouth and nose when handling poultry, wash hands with SOAP and water after handling birds and children not accompany poultry or slaughter premises as well as the need to separate from living birds.