# 6234
For the sixth time since the start of the year Egypt has reported a human H5N1 infection - and as in the case of two others this year from that nation - this one proved fatal.
This update from the World Health Organization’s GAR (Global Alert & Response) page.
Avian influenza – situation in Egypt – update
19 March 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.
The case is a 40 year-old female from Dakahlia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 6 March 2012, was hospitalised on 12 March 2012. She was in critical condition and received oseltamivir upon admission. She died on 15 March 2012.
The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories(NIC).
Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to sick backyard poultry.
Of the 164 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 58 have been fatal.
Up until the `Arab Spring’ revolution of a year ago, we often caught wind of H5N1 cases in the press – sometimes days before the Ministry of Health would make an official announcement.
That happens far less often today, although the newshounds on the flu forums continue to scour the Arabic press, looking for reports.
While we’ve seen 19 confirmed cases from 6 countries already this year, bird flu remains very difficult for humans to contract. The concern is that the virus will mutate, and better adapt to humans, over time.
