Egypt reports two human H5N1 avian influenza cases
Two people, an adult woman and a child, have tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, according to a report in the Egypt Independent today.
Image/CIA
According to the report by Al-Masry Al-Youm, “A 56-year-old woman in Beheira’s Damanhour, and a 4-year-old child in Damietta, who are in critical condition, have been transferred to ICU and administered Tamiflu treatment.
After holding the dubious honor of reporting the most human infections with the H5N1 virus for four years running (2009=39, 2010=29, 2011=39, 2012=11),the reported number of cases out of Egypt has plummeted last year (2013) to only 4.
As this drop in cases occurred pretty much concurrent with the revolution and ongoing political turmoil in Egypt, and with that – a decided reduction in press freedom – it has become increasingly more difficult to discern the level of H5N1 activity in that country over the past couple of years.
According to the WHO, the primary risk factor for human infection with the virus appears to be direct or indirect exposure to infected live or dead poultry or contaminated environments.
They go on to say there is no evidence to suggest that the H5N1 virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared poultry or eggs. A few human cases have been linked to consumption of dishes made of raw, contaminated poultry blood. However, slaughter, defeathering, handling carcasses of infected poultry, and preparing poultry for consumption, especially in household settings, are likely to be risk factors.
Related story: Woman Sexually Harassed At Cairo University (VIDEO)
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page and the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show page.
[…] human H5N1 avian flu case follows two confirmed cases two weeks ago (one case was from Damanhur […]
[…] human H5N1 avian flu case follows two confirmed cases two weeks ago (one case was from Damanhur […]
[…] Egypt reports two human H5N1 avian influenza cases The Global Dispatch According to the report by Al-Masry Al-Youm, ”A 56-year-old woman in Beheira's Damanhour, and a 4-year-old child in Damietta, who are in critical condition, have been… […]