WHO confirms two H5N1 cases in Egypt

Mar 5, 2008 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today reported that an 11-year-old Egyptian boy is hospitalized in critical condition with an H5N1 avian influenza infection, a day after the agency announced the death of a 25-year-old Egyptian woman from the virus.

The boy is from Menofia governorate, north of Cairo, according to a WHO statement. He was hospitalized with influenza symptoms on Feb 25, and his samples were positive for the H5N1 virus in tests by Egypt's Central Public Health Laboratory and the Cairo-based US Naval Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU-3).

The WHO said an investigation into the source of the boy's infection revealed that he had contact with sick and dead poultry.

Yesterday the WHO reported that a 25-year-old woman from Fayoum governorate, about 53 miles south of Cairo, died of an H5N1 infection. In its statement, the WHO said she got sick on Feb 24 and was hospitalized 3 days later; the date of her death was not listed. Egypt's health ministry had announced the confirmation of her case on Mar 1, according to earlier media reports.

An investigation into the woman's illness indicated she had contact with sick and dead poultry before she got sick, the WHO reported.

With the two latest cases, Egypt has had 46 H5N1 cases and 20 deaths, including 3 cases and 1 death this year. The WHO's global total is 371 cases and 235 deaths.

See also:

Mar 5 WHO statement

Mar 4 WHO statement

Mar 3 CIDRAP News story "New case raises Egypt's H5N1 count to 45"

WHO global H5N1 case count