Wüstenschiff

Avian influenza - Situation in Ägypten - update
WHO - 18.01.2007

Viruses with a genetic mutation, linked in laboratory testing to moderately reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir, have been discovered in two persons previously reported with H5N1 infections in Egypt. Both patients had been on treatment with oseltamivir for two days before the clinical samples that yielded the viruses were taken.

The two patients from whom samples were taken were a 16 year-old female and a 26 year-old male from Gharbiyah Province, Egypt.1 They were a niece and uncle, respectively, who lived in the same house. The girl was admitted to a hospital on 19 December 2006, while the man was admitted on 17 December. On 21 December they began receiving 2 tablets per day of oseltamivir. On 23 December they were moved to a referral hospital. The samples which have so far been tested were taken from the two patients on 23 December. The girl died on 25 December and the man died on 28 December 2006 ... mehr

Avian influenza - Situation in Ägypten - update 2
WHO - 22.01.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3). The 27-year-old woman from Beni Sweif Governate developed symptoms on 9 January 2007 and died in hospital on 19 January. Initial investigations indicate the presence of sick and dead poultry at her residence in the days prior to the onset of illness.

Of the 19 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 11 have been fatal.

Avian influenza - Situation in Nigeria
WHO - 31.01.2007

The government of Nigeria has announced the death from suspected avian influenza infection in a 22-year-old female from Lagos. She died on 16 January 2007. The mother of the 22-year-old died on 4 January with similar symptoms.

Preliminary tests on the samples from the 22-year-old were positive for influenza A/H5. Samples have now been sent to a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza for confirmation. Results are expected shortly. No samples were taken from the mother.

Contacts have been followed up and have shown no symptoms at twice the incubation period for avian influenza infection. Samples have been tested from these contacts as well as from three other suspected cases, including one fatal case and have all been negative in preliminary tests. These samples have also been sent to a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza.

It is important to reiterate that properly cooked poultry meat is safe to consume when cooked at temperatures at or above 70°C in all parts, until none of the meat is red. There is no epidemiological evidence to indicate that people have been infected with H5N1 virus following consumption of properly cooked poultry or eggs. The greatest risk of exposure to the virus is through the slaughter and handling of live or already dead infected poultry ... mehr

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (29): NIGERIA, CONFIRMED
***************************************
A ProMED-mail post
< http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
< http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 3 Feb 2007
From: Joe Dudley<jdudley@eaicorp.com>
Source: Source: WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
<http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_02_03/en/index.html>


The government of Nigeria has announced today the presence of A/H5N1
avian influenza virus in a 22-year-old deceased female from Lagos.
The initial positive test findings from a laboratory in Nigeria were
confirmed by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research
on Influenza in London. Further investigations are under way to
identify the source of her infection.

All samples from contacts of the deceased have tested negative by the
WHO Collaborating Centre.

H5N1 virus has been identified in poultry outbreaks in Nigeria and
similar to other affected countries, sporadic cases of human
infection with avian influenza are not unexpected. WHO is working
with the government of Nigeria to carry out intensive surveillance
and reports of additional suspected cases may occur as people with
influenza-like symptoms seek medical advice.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus is not transmitted to humans through
properly prepared and cooked food. Cases of human infection with H5N1
have frequently been linked to the home slaughter and subsequent
handling of diseased or dead birds prior to cooking. These practices
represent the highest risk to human infection and are the most
important to avoid. When handling raw poultry or live or dead birds,
it is imperative to disinfect hands and surfaces with soap and water.
Consumers also need to be sure that during the cooking process,
poultry reaches temperatures of at least 70C in all parts and that
eggs are fully cooked throughout.

--
Joseph P. Dudley, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist,
Biosecurity and Biosurveillance
EAI Corporation
Rockville MD 20852
USA
<jdudley@eaicorp.com>

Quelle: promedmail

Avian influenza - Situation in Ägypten - update 3
WHO - 06.02.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3).

The 17-year-old female from Fayyoum Governorate developed symptoms on 25 January 2007 and was initially treated for seasonal influenza. She was hospitalized on 1 February with fever and breathing difficulties, and died on 2 February. Initial investigations into the source of her exposure indicate the presence of sick and dead poultry at her home in the days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Of the 20 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 12 have been fatal.

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (37): EGYPT
**********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[1]
Date: Wed 14 Feb 2007
From: Joseph Dudley <jdudley@eaicorp.com>
Source: International Herald Tribune, Associated Press report [edited]
<http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/ ... rd-Flu.php>


Egypt: Woman confirmed as 21st avian influenza case
---------------------------------------------------
An Egyptian woman has tested [positive for] H5N1 [avian influenza
virus], bringing the total number of persons infected with the deadly
bird flu strain in the country to 21, a World Health Organization
official on Wed 14 Feb 2007. The 37-year-old woman, from the oasis
town of Fayoum, some 70 km. (45 miles) south of Cairo, was moved to a
hospital for contagious diseases in the Egyptian capital, WHO's John
Jabbour said.

--
Joseph P. Dudley, Ph.D.
<jdudley@eaicorp.com>

******
[2]
Date: Wed 14 Feb 2007
From: Joseph Dudley <jdudley@eaicorp.com>
Source: Reuters Foundation AlertNet [edited]
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14468605.htm>


Egypt: 21st human case of avian influenza virus reported
--------------------------------------------------------
A 37-year-old Egyptian woman has tested positive for the deadly bird
flu virus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in Egypt to 21, a
World Health Organisation official said on Wed 14 Feb 2007.

"There is a case, 37-years old, from Fayoum. She has been transferred
to Abbasiya (hospital) in good condition," said Hassan el-Bushra,
regional adviser for communicable diseases surveillance for the World
Health Organisation. Fayoum, a province southwest of Cairo, is the
same area where a 17-year-old girl died of bird flu this month. Egypt
has the highest known cluster of human cases outside Asia, with 12
deaths out of the 21 infected cases since the virus first surfaced in
Egyptian poultry a year ago [2006]. The woman, who kept birds in her
home, was admitted to hospital on Mon 12 Feb 2007 after coming into
contact with infected poultry, officials said.

Most people infected in Egypt had been in contact with poultry kept
at home. Bird flu initially caused panic across the country and did
extensive damage to the poultry industry. The Egyptian government
said last month [January 2007] poultry production had recovered to
1.8 million birds a day, just short of the 2 million produced before
the outbreak.

Officials said the woman was responding well to treatment, and there
was no indication she was infected with a mutated strain of the H5N1
virus that had shown "moderate" resistance to the anti-viral drug
Tamiflu. "We are not suspecting mutation anymore," said Cairo-based
WHO official John Jabbour. "This case is stable. [The patient] is
responding to treatment."

The mutated strain of the virus [which showed moderate Tamiflu
resistance] killed 3 Egyptians in the Nile Delta province of Gharbiya
in December [2006], according to the Egyptian Health Ministry. [This
mutant virus has not reappeared].

Officials have said the 17-year-old infected earlier this month
[February 2007] in Fayoum died because she did not get treatment
early enough, not because of the [drug resistance] mutation. She was
initially treated for seasonal flu after her family denied she had
come in contact with infected birds.

The WHO reaffirmed last May [2006] that patients should get Tamiflu
as a frontline treatment for bird flu, and said in certain cases
doctors may consider using it along with amantadine, an older class
of effective anti-flu drugs.

Health experts fear the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form that
passes easily from human to human, sparking a pandemic that could
kill millions. The virus has killed 166 people worldwide since 2003,
mostly in Asia.

[Byline: Cynthia Johnston, Alaa Shahine]

--
Joseph P. Dudley, Ph.D.
<jdudley@eaicorp.com>

[This additional human case of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection
is the 21st recorded in Egypt. The death toll in Egypt remains at 12.
All but one of the Egyptian cases have been women, probably
reflecting a higher risk of infection associated with domestic
poultry rearing and food preparation.

The overall global total of confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian
influenza now becomes 274, including 163 fatalities.

A map of Egypt showing the location of the Fayoum [Al Fayyum]
district south of Cairo can be accessed at:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/egypt.gif>. - Mod.CP]

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 4
WHO - 15.02.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3). The 37-year-old female from Fayyoum Governorate was admitted to hospital with symptoms on 12 February 2007 and her condition remains stable. She was involved in the slaughter and defeathering of sick birds one week prior to the onset of illness. Of the 21 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 12 have been fatal.

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 5
WHO - 16.02.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has confirmed the country's 13th death from H5N1 avian influenza. The 37-year-old female whose infection was announced on 15 February, died today. Of the 21 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 6
WHO - 19.02.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3). The 5-year-old boy from Sharkia Governorate was admitted to hospital with symptoms on 14 February, and his condition remains stable. The boy was exposed to sick birds one week prior to the onset of symptoms. Contacts of the boy remain healthy and have been placed under close observation. Of the 22 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (43): ÄGYPTEN
*****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

******
Egypt, 23rd case confirmed
Date: Wed 28 Feb 2007
From: Mary Marshall <tropical.forestry@btinternet.com>
Source: Xinhua News Agency [edited]
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007- ... 781374.htm>


Egypt: new human case of avian influenza reported
-----------------------------------------------
The Egyptian Health Ministry stated on Tue 27 Feb 2007 that a new human
bird flu case was confirmed in the northern Egyptian governorate of
Daqahliya, the official MENA News Agency reported.

The new victim is a 4 year old girl who was tested positive to the avian
flu in Daqahliya, 90 km north of Cairo, Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman
Abdel-Rahman Shaheen was quoted as saying. Suffering from high temperature
after contacting infected domestic poultry, she was admitted to the
Mansoura (governorate capital) Chest Hospital, Shaheen said, adding that
the child will be later moved to another hospital for treatment. The new
case is the 23rd human bird flu case since the H5N1 virus was 1st detected
in Egypt in dead poultry on 17 Feb 2006, and then the virus spread to 20 of
the country's 26 governorates.

The populous Arab country reported its 1st human bird flu case on 18 Mar
2006. Before the latest human bird flu case was reported, 13 people had
died, and 9 recovered from the bird flu in Egypt.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

Avian influenza - Situation in Ägypten - update 7
WHO - 01.03.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3).

The 4-year-old girl was from Dakahlea Governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 February, was admitted to hospital on 26 February and her condition remains stable. The girl was exposed to sick birds at her home one week prior to the onset of symptoms. Contacts of the girl remain healthy and are being closely monitored.

Of the 23 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (49): ÄGYPTEN
************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 10 Mar 2007
From: Mary Marshall <tropical.forestry@btinternet.com>
Source: Kuna, Kuwait News Agency [edited]
<http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx? ... SNO=960088>


Egypt: 24 human case of avian influenza
-----------------------------------------------
The 24th human case infected with bird flu was recorded on Sat 10 Mar
2007, when an Egyptian child was diagnosed positive for the disease
this evening by health officials.

Mohammad Ibrahim, 4, of al-Daqhalia governorate north of the capital
Cairo, was suffering from high temperature when admitted to hospital,
as his tests came back positive for avian influenza, the Egyptian
health ministry said in a statement.

Thirteen human deaths [have been reported] since the virulent virus
infiltrated Egypt in February 2006, in addition to substantial
economic loses suffered by the poultry business. Since the virus
reemerged in Asia in 2003, outbreaks have been confirmed in around 50
countries and territories, according to data from the World
Organization for Animal Health.

The virus has killed 168 people since 2003, according to the World
Health Organization (WHO). Countries with confirmed human deaths are:
Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Nigeria,
Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam. [Of affected countries, only Djibouti
with a single case has recorded no deaths. - Mod.CP]

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The 24th confirmed human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt
brings the global total of cases to 278 with 168 fatalities. - Mod.CP]

Avian influenza - Situation in Ägypten - update 8
WHO - 12.03.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3). The 4-year-old boy was from Ad Daqahliyah Governorate. He developed symptoms on 7 March 2007, was admitted to hospital on 8 March and his condition remains stable. The boy was exposed to sick birds during the first three days of March. Contacts of the boy remain healthy and are being closely monitored. Of the 24 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (52): ÄGYPTEN
**********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 14 Mar 2007
From: Mary Marshall <tropical.forestry@btinternet.com>
Source: Reuters Alertnet [edited]
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14633239.htm>


A 10-year-old Egyptian girl has tested positive for H5N1 avian
influenza virus infection, becoming the 25th human case in the most
populous Arab country, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official
said on Wed 14 Mar 2007.

"It occurred inside Aswan, in an urban area, and we don't have many
details at this point in time," said Hassan al-Bushra, regional
adviser for communicable disease surveillance for WHO. Bushra added
that the girl would be transferred to Cairo for treatment.

State news agency MENA quoted a health ministry spokesman as saying
that the girl had been admitted to a hospital in Aswan, 450 km. (280
miles) south of Cairo, on Tuesday [13 Mar 2007] suffering from fever
and muscle pains, and that tests confirmed [the patient] had the H5N1
virus. She was treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu, and was
stable. He added that her family was being kept under observation.

On Sunday [11 Mar 2007], WHO and the Egyptian health ministry said a
4-year-old boy had contracted the deadly bird flu virus, and was
receiving Tamiflu.

According to WHO the virus has killed 168 people since 2003 and at
least 200 million birds have died or been culled.

Avian influenza - Situation in Ägypten - update 9
WHO - 19.03.2007

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3). The 10-year-old girl from Aswan Governorate, was admitted to hospital with symptoms on 13 March and her condition remains stable. Investigations indicate that she had recently been exposed to sick poultry. Contacts of the girl are being kept under observation. Of the 25 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.