Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 12

21 April 2009 -- The Ministry of Health of Egypt has reported two new confirmed human cases of avian influenza.

The first case is a 25-year old pregnant female from El Marg District, Cairo Governorate. Her symptoms began on 6 April and she was hospitalized at Ain Shams University hospital on 11 April where she was started on oseltamivir on 16 April. She is in a critical condition. Investigations into the source of her infection indicated close contact with sick poultry prior to becoming ill.

The second case is 18-month old female from Kellin District, Kafr Elsheikh Governorate. Her symptoms began on 15 April and she was hospitalized at Kafr Elsheikh Fever Hospital on 18 April where she was started on oseltamivir on the same day of hospitalization. Her condition is stable. Investigations into the source of infection indicated close contact with dead and sick poultry prior to becoming ill.

For both cases, infection with H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3).

Of the 66 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 have been fatal.

Source : http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_21/en/index.html