# 2912
For the 4th time this month (and the 8th time this year), Egypt is reporting a new H5N1 infection – this time in a 38 year-old woman from Asyut province.
This makes Egypt’s 59th confirmed infection from bird flu since the virus arrived in that country in 2006.
This report from the Russian News and Information Agency.
Egyptian woman tests positive for bird flu
11:09
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19/ 03/ 2009CAIRO, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - A 38-year-old woman in Egypt has been diagnosed with bird flu, bringing the country's official total number of cases to 59, a spokesman for the country's health ministry said on Thursday.
The woman from the Asyut province, to the south of Cairo, was hospitalized with a high temperature and bad cough on Saturday. She is believed to have contracted the virus after coming into contact with dead poultry.
Last week, an 18-month-old girl in northern Egypt's Manoufiya province was also diagnosed with bird flu.
Egyptian officials said that 23 deaths from bird flu have been recorded in the country since 2006.
As of March 11, a total of 411 bird flu cases had been registered worldwide since the virus was first detected in 2003, resulting in 256 deaths, according to the WHO.
Although there have been no incidences of human-to-human infection, experts fear that the bird flu virus may mutate into a form that could be easily transmitted from person to person, causing a global pandemic.
From the SAIDR (Strengthening Avian Flu Detection & Response) website we get this summary of Egypt’s reported cases thus far in the month of March.
- Date of report: 18 March 2009
- Governorate: Assiut
- District: El Fath
- Event summary: Woman, age 38, began experiencing fever and headache March 14. She was admitted to Assiut Fever Hospitaland given Tamiflu on March 14. Infection with avian influenza was confirmed March 18. The woman reported contact with dead and sick poultry. She was reported clinically free and in a good general condition on March 18. The MOHP reported this was the 59th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt.
- Source of report: Amr Kandeel, Undersecretary for preventative affairs, MOHP
Samir Refaie, Head of Epideiology and Surveillance Unit, MOHP -
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- Date of report: 10 March 2009
- Governorate: Menoufiya
- District: Menouf
- Event summary: Girl, age 1½, began experiencing symptoms March 6. She was admitted to Menouf Fever Hospital upon showing symptoms of high fever and cough, and was given Tamiflu. Infection with avian influenza was confirmed March 10. The girl reportedly had a history of close contact with dead and sick poultry. The child was reported in a good general condition on March 10. The MOHP reported this was the 58th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt.
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- Date of report: 4 March 2009
Governorate: Alexandria - District: Amira
- Event summary: Boy, age 2½, began experiencing symptoms March 3. The same day, he was admitted to Alexandria Fever Hospital and received Tamiflu. Infection with avian influenza was confirmed March 4. His family reported a history of close contact with dead and sick poultry. The child was in a good general condition March 4. The MOHP reported this was the 57th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt.
- Source of report: Amr Kandeel, Undersecretary for preventative affairs, MOHP
Samir Refaie, Head of Epideiology and Surveillance Unit, MOHP - ---------------------------------------
- Date of report: 1 March 2009
- Governorate: Fayoum
- District: Youssef el Seddik
- Event summary: Boy, age 2, began experiencing symptoms Feb. 25. He was admitted to Manshiet el Bakry General Hospital on Feb. 28. The child received Tamiflu the same day. Infection with avian influenza was confirmed March 1. His mother reported a history of close contact with dead and sick poultry. The child was in a critical condition under artificial ventilation March 1. The MOHP reported this was the 56th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt.
- Source of report: Amr Kandeel, Undersecretary for preventative affairs, MOHP
Samir Refaie, Head of Epideiology and Surveillance Unit, MOHP
