Thursday, August 12, 2010

WHO: Avian influenza - Egypt - update 36

 

 

 

# 4799

 

 

A week ago (see Bird Flu Reports Out Of Egypt) we learned from Treyfish on FluTrackers of Egypt’s 111th confirmed Bird flu victim.  

 

Today the World Health Organization has updated their Disease Outbreak News webpage with a summary of that case.

 

 

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 36

12 August 2010 -- The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced a new human case of A(H5N1) avian influenza infection.

 

The case is a 2 year-old female from Elsalam district, Cairo. She developed symptoms on 2 August, was hospitalized on the same day and received oseltamivir treatment. She is currently under treatment in hospital.

 

Investigations into the source of infection indicated that the case had exposure to sick and dead poultry.

 

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN).

 

Of the 111 laboratory confirmed cases of Avian influenza A(H5N1) reported in Egypt, 35 have been fatal.

 

 

Sporadic human infections with the H5N1 avian flu virus continue to be reported in a handful of countries around the globe.  Most (but not all) have been linked to close contact with infected poultry or birds.

 

The virus has yet to adapt well enough to human physiology to transmit effectively between people, although scientists warn that the virus could mutate into a pandemic strain someday.

 

The world remains in Pre-Pandemic Phase III on H5N1, and so monitoring and reporting on this virus remains important.

 

Meanwhile Crof has information (via Ida on BFIC) about the suspected Bird Flu case in Indonesia in Indonesia: H5N1 suspect tests negative, but another suspect under treatment.