Egypt February 27 2011 to ...

WHO confirms 3 human H5N1 cases (1 fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 4428 February 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced 3 new confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The fist case is a 26 year-old female from Dakahlia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 18 January and was hospitalized on 23 January. She has recovered and was discharged on 7 February.

The second case is a 45 year-old male from Menofia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 20 January and was hospitalized on 26 January. He died on 5 February.

The third case is a 4 year-old male from Damiata Governorate. He developed symptoms on 14 February and was hospitalized on 16 February. He is in a stable condition.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the three cases had exposure to poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 125 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 41 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 17:12:15 PM UTC

WHO confirms 2 human H5N1 cases

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 45
7 March 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced two new confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The first case is a 32 year old female from Sharkia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 10 February and was hospitalized on 14 February. She is in a critical condition.

The second case is a two year old male from Kafr Elsheikh Governorate. He developed symptoms on 18 February and was hospitalized on 20 February. He is under treatment and is in a good general condition.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the two cases had exposure to poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 127 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 41 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 23:34:27 PM UTC

WHO confirms 2 new human H5N1 cases (1 fatal)

...and the death of a previously announced H5N1 patient.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 46
10 March 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced two new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus and the death of a previously announced case.

The first case is a 17 year old female from Behira Governorate. She developed symptoms on 27 February and was hospitalized on 1 March. She is in a stable condition.

The second case is a 17 year old female from Dakahlia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 24 February and was hospitalized on 26 February. She died on 28 February.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the both cases had exposure to sick and dead poultry. Both cases received oseltamivir treatment.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

The previously reported case, a 32 year old female from Sharkia Governorate (see update 45), died on 3 March.

Of the 129 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 43 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 18:21:38 PM UTC

WHO confirms human H5N1 case (fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 47

15 March 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced a new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 38 year old female from Ismailia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 1 March and was hospitalized on 7 March.

She was in a critical condition under artificial ventilation and died on 11 March.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to sick poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 130 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 44 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Mar 15, 2011 at 13:34:04 PM UTC

Study profiles human H5N1 burden in Egypt

snip

Because the H5N1 viruses in Egypt seem to be less virulent than those elsewhere, there is concern that they are becoming more adapted to humans, say the authors, who are from St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and the Egypt's National Research Center in Cairo. Their report was published yesterday.

snip

No host-adaptation mutation
On the genetic front, the scientists say several sublineages of H5N1 clade 2.2.1 have been reported in Egypt, of which at least three are still circulating. They identified what they believe is a new sublineage, which they call Egypt-G, represented by four isolates. But they found no specific lineages that seemed to circulate in humans but not in birds or vice versa, and thus no "host-adaptation mutation."

Similarly, they couldn't find particular changes in the virus that seemed linked to changes in the fatality rate: "We were not able to confirm that lower pathogenicity of the viruses is the main reason for increase or decrease in the mortality rate among humans in Egypt."

The virus appeared "in its most virulent form in 2006," and any significant mutation may be expected to lead to lower virulence, they add. But they caution that other host and environmental factors that may affect disease severity must be properly studied before concluding that any decrease in mortality is due to mutations.

snip

full article
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Mar 24, 2011 at 16:51:42 PM UTC

WHO confirms 3 human H5N1 cases (1 fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 48
29 March 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced three new confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

The first case is a 32 year old male from Suez Governorate. He developed symptoms on 8 March, was hospitalized on 12 March and died on 13 March.

The second case is a 28 year old female from Giza Governorate. She developed symptoms on 8 March and was hospitalized on 10 March. She is in a stable condition.

The third case is a 4 year old male from Behira Governorate. He developed symptoms on 5 March and was hospitalized on 7 March. He recovered and was discharged on 12 March.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the cases had exposure to sick and/or dead poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 133 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 45 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 16:52:40 PM UTC

WHO confirms 4 human H5N1 cases

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 49

6 April 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced four new confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

The first case is a one year old male from Behaira Governorate. He developed symptoms on 14 February, was hospitalized on 16 February. He recovered and was discharged on 22 February.

The second case is a three years old female from Behaira Governorate. She developed symptoms on 10 March, was hospitalized on 12 March. She recovered and was discharged on 18 March. The previous two cases are from the same district but different villages and they are not relatives.

The third case a 34 year old female from Alexandria Governorate. She developed symptoms on 9 March and was hospitalized on 15th March. She is still under treatment in a stable condition.

The fourth case is a 30 years old female from Kafr El-Shaikh Governorate. She developed symptoms on 7 March and was hospitalized on 15 March. She recovered and was discharged on 27 March.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that all cases had exposure to sick and/or dead poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 137 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 45 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 15:47:39 PM UTC

WHO confirms 4 human H5N1 cases (1 fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 50

11 April 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced four new confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

The first case is a 20 years old female from Behaira Governorate. She developed symptoms on 14 March and was hospitalized on 19 March. She was in a critical condition and died on 28 March.

The second case is a two years old female from Menofeya Governorate. She developed symptoms on 26 March and was hospitalized on 27 March. She is still under treatment and in a stable condition.

The third case is a 55 year old female from Behaira Governorate. She developed symptoms on 20 March and was hospitalized on 22 March. She recovered and was discharged on 5 April.

The fourth case is a 1 year old male from Fayoum Governorate He developed symptoms on 20 March and was hospitalized on 28 March. He is still under treatment and in a stable condition.

All the cases received oseltamivir treatment at the time of hospitalization.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the cases had exposure to sick and/or dead poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 141 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 46 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Mon Apr 11, 2011 at 16:09:54 PM UTC

New bird flu case detected in Menoufiya

Poultry in the house of a Menoufiya resident tests positive for the virus

Ahram Online, Thursday 21 Apr 2011

Bird flu has hit the governorate of Menoufiya, with a new infected area found in the town of Fisha.

According to Ahmed Fouad, head of Veterinary Medicine in Menoufiya, the poultry in the house of one Ibrahim Gaber tested positive for the virus, The birds were slaughtered as a precautionary measure.

According to the World Health Organization, there have been 141 cases of human bird flu in Egypt since the virus was first detected in 2006, with 46 of them resulting in death.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/Ne...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Apr 21, 2011 at 22:06:06 PM UTC

Two new human cases of H5N1

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 51

April 21, 2011 - April 16, 2011 Ministry of Health in Egypt has announced two new human cases caused by avian influenza virus A (H5N1).

1 symptoms developed in a 29-year-old male from Wadi Elrian Fayoum Governorate.
April 4, he was hospitalized and died on April 7.
In the second case on April 9 symptoms of the disease occurred in boys aged one and a half years from the area of Fayoum governorate Sunuris.

April 11 he was hospitalized.Currently under treatment, his condition is stable.
In both cases the patients during hospitalization received oseltamivir.

Investigations into the source of infection has been found that in both cases had contact with sick and / or dead poultry suspected of having avian influenza.
The epidemiological link between these two cases is missing.

Cases were confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratory of Egypt, the National Influenza Center of the Global Network of WHO's influenza surveillance.
Of the 143 confirmed cases in Egypt, 47 have been fatal.

http://www.who.int/entity/csr/...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 21:25:35 PM UTC

Two Bird Flu Cases Confirmed

28 April 2011

Cairo - The recent confirmation of two cases of avian influenza in Egypt has raised fresh fears of a possible spread of the disease when the government is still trying to stabilize following mass protests three months ago.

"Chicken traders move large numbers of birds among the governorates uncensured," said Abdel Aziz Al-Sayed, chairman of the Poultry Section at the Egyptian Federation of the Chambers of Commerce. The fragile security in the country, he added, had allowed many poultry shops and farms to emerge in heavily populated areas, increasing the risk.

Of the 143 cases so far confirmed in Egypt, including the latest two, who had the A (H5N1) virus, 47 have been fatal, according to the UN World Health Organization. "We continue to receive large numbers of people who suffer bird flu symptoms," said Mahmud Abdel Meguid, chairman of the Abassiya Fever Hospital. "Most of them test negative, but we have to take these complaints seriously."

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

http://allafrica.com/stories/2...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 19:11:05 PM UTC

H5N1 strains in Egypt show increased ability to bind to human cells

H5N1 avian influenza viruses in Egypt have branched into new sublineages and have shown a mutation that helps them bind more readily to human cell receptors in the lower respiratory tract, which may indicate an increased pandemic potential

(Snip) Researchers from Egypt, Japan, and Thailand conducted a phylogenetic analysis of H5N1 viruses isolated from 2006 to 2009 in Egypt. Using reverse genetics, they found that several new sublineages have acquired an enhanced receptor-binding affinity of the viral hemagglutinin to alpha-2,6-linked sialic acid (SA), which is a receptor-binding trait of human influenza strains. The mutation was associated with increased attachment to and infectivity in the lower respiratory tract but not the larynx of humans and also demonstrated increased virulence in mice.

(Snip) "Our findings suggested that emergence of new H5 sublineages with alpha-2,6 SA specificity caused a subsequent increase in human H5N1 influenza virus infections in Egypt, and provided data for understanding the virus's pandemic potential."

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat May 28, 2011 at 14:02:54 PM UTC

WHO confirms human H5N1 case (fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 52

1 June 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced a new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 30 year old female from Amria District, Alexandria Governorate. She developed symptoms on 26 April and was hospitalized on 3 May.

She was in a critical condition under artificial ventilation and died on 9 May. She received oseltamivir treatment at the time of hospitalization.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to sick poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 144 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 48 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 22:56:36 PM UTC

WHO confirms 5 human H5N1 cases (3 fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 53
16 June 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has notified WHO of five cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The first case is a 40 years old female from Aswan District, Aswan Governorate. She developed symptoms on 14 May, and was hospitalized. She completed the course of oseltamivir, recovered and was discharged.

The second case is a 21 years old pregnant female from Ashmoun District, Menofia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 21 May, was hospitalized and received oseltamivir. She died on 29 May.

The third case is a 31 years old male from Shobra Elkhima District, Qaliobia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 21 May, was hospitalized and received oseltamivir. He died on 5 June.

The fourth case is a 32 years old male from Elzawya District, Cairo Governorate. He developed symptoms on 23 May was hospitalized and received oseltamivir. He died on 2 June.

The fifth case is a 16 years old male from Ashmoon District, Menofia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 21 May was hospitalized and received oseltamivir. He was in a critical condition but he is recovering.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that all the cases had exposure to poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The cases were confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 149 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 51 have been fatal .  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 19:21:58 PM UTC

WHO confirms human H5N1 case (fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 542
2 June 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 27 year-old male from Qena governorate, Deshna district. He developed symptoms on 5 June 2011, was hospitalized and was put on oseltamivir treatment on 13 June. He died on 14 June 2011.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian sub-national laboratory for Influenza in Aswan and the Central Public Health Laboratories in Cairo, a National Influenza Centre of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 150 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 13:58:44 PM UTC

Poultry traders in Egypt denounce 2010 law

By Tamer Mohamed - The Egyptian Gazette
Saturday, June 25, 2011 01:08:25 PM

CAIRO - Hundreds of poultry shop owners protested outside the TV Building near the Nile Corniche in Cairo Friday, demanding the Government of Essam Sharaf rescind a 2010 law barring trade and transport of live birds to help prevent the spread of the bird flu virus.

full story

http://213.158.162.45/~egyptia...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Jun 25, 2011 at 14:07:29 PM UTC

Bird Flu Update

snip

Since the last report there has been a relatively sharp increase in the number of human infections and deaths in Egypt caused from the H5N1 (bird flu) virus - although the absolute numbers remain quite low.

Figures published in May 2011 by the World Health Organization (WHO) show Egypt has confirmed 47 human deaths caused from the virus (seven new deaths since February), out of 143 (previously 122) known human infections in the country, the largest number outside Asia.

snip

http://www.businesswire.com/ne...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Fri Jul 08, 2011 at 21:57:00 PM UTC

Study questions effectiveness of avian flu vaccines

Study questions effectiveness of avian flu vaccines for Egypt's poultry

study published online by Vaccine suggests that avian influenza vaccines being used in Egypt's poultry may not adequately protect them from H5N1 avian flu and may even contribute to spread of the disease.

A nationwide vaccination campaign was launched after avian flu first hit Egypt's poultry flocks in 2006, the report notes. In the study, a team of German and Egyptian researchers vaccinated breeder chickens at 6, 12, and 18 weeks with a commercial H5N2 vaccine and later exposed them to H5N1 viruses.

The first dose generated a high level of antibodies against the H5N2 vaccine strain but a much lower level against the "classic" H5N1 strain circulating in Egypt. Antibodies against the classic strain increased after the second dose, but the vaccine generated no antibody response to a newer H5N1 variant circulating in the country. When eight chickens were challenged at 50 weeks with the classic H5N1 strain, just one died, and the rest showed mild or no illness.

But 6 of 8 chickens that were exposed to the variant H5N1 strain died. The exposed chickens continued to lay eggs through most of the observation period, and virus was detected on the outer shell of 17 of 40 eggs. The findings highlight "the risk of silent virus spread by vaccinated animals and point to eggs as a possible vector," the report says.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:44:14 PM UTC

WHO confirms 1 new human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 55

9 August 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has notified WHO of one case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 6 years old female from Demnhoor district, Behira governorate. She developed symptoms on 1 2 July, and was hospitalized. She completed the course of oseltamivir, recovered and was discharged on 30 July .

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to poultry suspected to have avian influenza.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 151 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Aug 09, 2011 at 21:20:29 PM UTC

UN warns of new strain of bird flu in Egypt

Thu, 01/09/2011

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a warning concerning a possible new strain of the H5N1 virus, commonly known as "bird flu," in countries where the virus is endemic, like Egypt and Bangladesh.

The new strain may allow for the transfer of infection from human to human, rather than from bird to human, the FAO said, describing the development as the most dangerous in the history of the disease.

Earlier official reports had revealed that Egypt was the only African country where the virus had become endemic.

The government has faced accusations of responsibility for the spread of the virus, neglecting safety measures at breeding farms and failing to properly oversee poultry farming operations.

Osama Selim, the head of Egypt's veterinary authority, said the authority is adopting a new strategy that will enable Egypt to curb the epidemic and prevent the virus from developing further.

He said that when the virus first appeared in Egypt in 2006, efforts focusing on curbing its development were fairly successful.

Selim said that the top priorities in the new strategy include preventing the sale of live poultry nation-wide, as well as convincing citizens to cooperate by ceasing to breed poultry at home, given the danger it poses to their health.

He said that the new strategy relies on a commitment to safety standards from both ciitzens and concerned state bodies.

Translated from the Arabic Edition

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/e...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Fri Sep 02, 2011 at 12:48:43 PM UTC

Egypt renews attempts to combat Bird Flu

Egypt to embark on a new plan to fight the avian flu virus through a public awareness campaign and financial incentives

Ahram Online, Thursday 1 Sep 2011

The Egyptian head of veterinarian services, Osama Selim, announced on Thursday that Egypt has a new plan for 2011-2012 to combat the avian flu virus.

The plan will seek to control the spread of the virus. It will encourage major poultry breeders to sell at low prices frozen poultry to encourage people not to purchase livestock. The plan also includes launching a public awareness campaign in the media to discourage farmers to breed poultry inside their homes and explain the risks this poses to their family.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 149 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 51 have been fatal. The most recent cases were five announced in May by Egypt's Ministry of Health, of whom three died.
Egypt is rated by the WHO as having one of the highest infection rates of avian flu.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/Ne...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 12:36:17 PM UTC

Stronger vet measures needed against H5N1

Veterinary measures to control H5N1 avian influenza may not be strong enough to monitor continuing outbreaks in Egyptian poultry, but so far there is no evidence that H5N1 infection patterns in humans have changed, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a risk assessment report.

It said continuing transmission of the virus in poultry and on to humans in Egypt over the past 5 years is worrisome, and if it emerges into a pandemic strain could affect Europe quickly. Current data, however, show no major changes in the human epidemiology of H5N1 in Egypt or that the virus has become more adaptable to humans.

The ECDC said its Egyptian risk assessment grew out of its global H5N1 risk assessment in August following a UN Food and Agriculture Organization report that suggested H5N1 risks were changing.

Sep 15 ECDC press release

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

Sep 15 rapid risk assessment report

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

article
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Sep 18, 2011 at 14:43:30 PM UTC

Correct links for

Sep 15 ECDC press release

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/press...

Sep 15 rapid risk assessment report

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publi...

Sorry about that.

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Sep 18, 2011 at 15:02:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Researchers seeks lessons from Egypt BF

10/16/2011

By Justin Bannister/jbannist@nmsu.edu

Tens of thousands of people die from various forms the flu each year, but gaining a better understanding of how the disease spreads - especially in some of its most infectious strains - may help bring those numbers down. At least that's the hope of one researcher at New Mexico State University.

Susan Wilson, an associate health science professor at NMSU, has studied avian influenza, also known H5N1, for the past few years. She's most interested in how H5N1 spreads in Egypt, and why women and children are disproportionally affected in that country. At a conference earlier this year, she presented a model that looks at the various environmental and behavioral interactions that facilitate the spread of bird flu. Her graduate assistant, Noha Oushy, co-authored their published paper.

continued

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 12:19:28 PM UTC

Outbreak of H5N1 in poultry

H5N1 avian influenza
-------------------------
According to the national authorities of Egypt, relayed by the bulletin of the FAO EMPRES Global Animal Disease-I information system, an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza was observed on 24 October and confirmed October 25, 2011 in the locality El Amrya of the administrative division of Al Fayyum. It appears that the avian species in particular, chickens and ducks that are involved in the infection. The avian influenza virus has tested positive for H5 and serotype was determined using reverse transcriptase PCR in real time by the National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production (NLQP) dated October 25 2011. It was noted that all of the 250 chickens and 70 ducks that died involved. However no statistics or epidemiology, or the measures against the disease have been elucidated.

- Communicated by: ProMED-

[Avian flu continues its expansion in Egypt in particular, in the administrative division of Al Fayyum where different communities are affected at the option of time. The recurrent outbreak of bird flu in Egypt encourages a lot of vigilance and determination in the fight against the disease.

translated from french
http://empres-i.fao.org/empres...
http://www.promedmail.org

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Oct 29, 2011 at 01:38:30 AM UTC

WHO confirms 1 new human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 56

2 November 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has notified WHO of one case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 1 year-old male from Mahala district, Gharbia governorate. He developed symptoms on 17 September and was hospitalized on 21 September. He completed the course of oseltamivir, recovered and was discharged from the hospital on 25 September.

Investigations into the source of infection revealed that the case had contact with poultry raised in the neighbourhood.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 152 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Thu Nov 03, 2011 at 15:31:40 PM UTC

Egypt & Indonesia Report H5N1 Outbreaks

November 21, 2011
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...
Nov 21, 2011 (CIDRAP News) - Egypt reported five H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in October, and the latest disease surveillance from Indonesia suggests that the highest incidence is in Bali, where three human fatal infections were recently reported, according to an overview from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Egyptian H5N1 outbreaks struck four governorates: Beheira, Fayoum, Gharbia, and Giza. The event in Beheira occurred at a farm where poultry was vaccinated against H5N1. The other four outbreaks affected unvaccinated backyard or rooftop poultry, according to the FAO.
In Indonesia, disease surveillance authorities said Bali had the highest incidence of villages affected by highly pathogenic avian flu in September, at 5.6 per 1,000, followed by Central Sulawesi (4.3 per 1,000), West Sulawesi (3.1), West Kalimantan (3.1), and South Sulawesi (2.8) provinces. The figures are from the Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response program, which covers 29 of the country's 33 provinces.

In October, the H5N1 virus killed three Bali residents, a 29-year-old woman and two of her children, a 5-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. Poultry in the family's household had died before the woman and her children got sick.  Outbreaks were also reported in two villages in East Nusa Tenggara province, the FAO reported.  More recently, the virus struck poultry in three subdistricts in South Sulawesi province, killing about 14,000 birds, according to a local media report cited on Nov 19 by Bird Flu Information Corner, a Web message board operated by Kobe University in Japan and Airlangga University in Indonesia.
(more)

 

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

---

by: History Lover @ Mon Nov 21, 2011 at 23:49:46 PM UTC

WHO confirms human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 57

29 November 2011 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of one case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 31 year-old female from Meet Salseel district, Dakahlia governorate. She developed symptoms on 10 November 2011 and was hospitalized on 16 November 2011. She is in critical condition and is provided with ventilation support.

Investigations into the source of infection revealed that the case had exposure to sick and dead poultry in her backyard.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network on 21 November 2011.

Of the 153 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Wed Nov 30, 2011 at 06:24:06 AM UTC

New human case of avian influenza H5N1

30 november 2011

On Tuesday, November 29th, Egyptian authorities reported a new human case of avian influenza H5N1 in Meet Salseel District (in the Ad Daqahliyah Governorate). The patient started to develop the symptoms on November 16th and is currently in a critical condition. According to the latest information, the patient has been on contact with poultry.

From the beginning of 2011 until November 29th, authorities have confirmed 34 human cases of avian influenza (including 12 deaths). Most of the cases have been reported along the Nile River. Since 2006, 153 human H5N1 infections including 52 fatalities have been reported in Egypt. Symptoms of human infection by the H5N1 virus are high fever (typically over 38°C) as well as other flu-like symptoms including chills, headaches, nausea, etc. Patients may experience coughing, shortness of breath and pulmonary infiltrates.

Even though the risk of human infection is low, avoid contact with birds (poultry or wild bird market) and do not eat raw or undercook bird products (eggs and meat). The risk is higher for those having direct and close contact with poultry. If you develop the symptoms, consult immediately a doctor.

http://www.netglobers.com/afri...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 15:01:55 PM UTC

Researchers profile Egypt's H5N1 threat

A year-long poultry surveillance project in six of Egypt's 27 governorates revealed several features of H5N1 avian flu in the country, including the surprising finding that no other avian flu strains were detected. The researchers conducted the study from Aug 2009 through July 2010, reporting their findings in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The group focused on the main poultry production regions.

Of 5,562 samples from 58 sites, the H5N1 incidence was 5%, with most of the findings in chickens, with rates higher for commercial farms than for backyard poultry. They noted that the high incidence of H5N1 at commercial farms calls into question the effectiveness of H5 vaccines in use at the facilities. The virus was also commonly found in poultry slaughterhouses and live bird markets, representing both urban and rural threats.

Sampling of a wild egret population in Cairo also turned up the virus, which the authors said poses a threat to the city's population and to a nearby zoo. H5N1 findings in poultry didn't vary by month, though human cases seemed to spike in January and February, suggesting that other factors play a role. They concluded that the virus remains a threat to humans and that more efforts are needed to monitor its evolution and circulation in poultry.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

December Emerg Infect Diseases

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/artic...


United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Dec 06, 2011 at 11:49:44 AM UTC

WHO: Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 58

(Cross-posted from News Reports for December 15, 2011, hat-tip Pogge)

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 58
15 December 2011 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‬‪

The two cases are a mother and her young child from Dakahlia Governorate. Both developed symptoms on 26 November 2011.‬‪The mother was admitted to a Hospital on 1 December 2011 and received oseltamivir on admission. The child was hospitalised on 2 December 2011 and received oseltamivir on admission. The mother was 24 weeks pregnant. She died on 3 December 2011. The child is in stable condition.‬‪

Investigations into the source of infection indicate that both cases had exposure to sick and dead backyard poultry (chicken and turkeys).‬‪

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Centre of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network, on 3 December 2011.‬‪

Of the 155 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 53 have been fatal.‬‪

---

by: AlohaOR @ Fri Dec 16, 2011 at 05:48:18 AM UTC

Bird Flu - Cause for concern

As scientists mumble behind closed doors that it is not a question of if Bird Flu makes the species jump to humans, but when, researchers have created a highly pathogenic strain of Influenza in a laboratory.

After another death from Bird Flu in Egypt, the WHO stresses the need for vigilance of variant influenza viruses.

The Egyptian health authorities have confirmed that the healthy, 29-year-old man hospitalized on December 15 with Influenza A H5N1 (Bird Flu) after developing the symptoms one week previously, died on December 19 despite undergoing treatment with oseltamivir. Of the 156 cases of A H5N1 in Egypt, there have been 54 fatalities.

http://english.pravda.ru/healt...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Dec 22, 2011 at 22:57:52 PM UTC

WHO confirms human H5N1 case (fatal)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...
Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 60

5 January 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‪

The case is a 42 year-old male from Menofia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 16 December 2011 and was admitted to hospital on 21 December 2011, where he received oseltamivir treatment. He was in critical condition and died on 22 December 2011.

The case was confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Centre of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network, on 24 December 2011.

Investigations into the source of infection indicated that the case had exposure to sick and dead backyard poultry.

Of the 157 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 55 have been fatal.  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Fri Jan 06, 2012 at 03:03:16 AM UTC

H5N1 death

The patient from Egypt, a 42-year-old from Menofia governorate, got sick on Dec 16 and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition and treated with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) on Dec 21, the WHO said in a statement. The man died the next day, raising Egypt's official H5N1 infection total to 157 and the number of deaths from the disease to 55.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Fri Jan 06, 2012 at 10:41:50 AM UTC

Egypt's poultry farms stop clucking

Friday, January 13, 2012

CAIRO - The poultry industry is threatened by the high prices of fodder and the banning of the transportation of poultry from one governorate to another, to prevent avian flu spreading, in addition to a severe reduction in number of slaughterhouses.

Some slaughterhouses are now being used to produce eggs and breed turkeys. The Poultry Producers Union has called for fast solutions to the problems. Another problem is that the role of the Chicken Stock Exchange has declined, which means that prices depend on supply and demand.

continued
http://213.158.162.45/~egyptia...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 01:50:42 AM UTC

Transport ban affecting Egyptian poultry industry

The poultry industry in Egypt is not only facing high prices of feed but the banning of the transportation of poultry from one governorate to another to prevent avian flu spreading has seen a severe reduction in the number of slaughterhouses.

Another problem is that the role of the Chicken Stock Exchange has declined, which means that prices depend on supply and demand. The executive manger of the Chicken Stock Exchange in el-Qaliubia Governorate, Ahmed Nassar, says that el-Qaliubia produces 70% of the country's chickens.

continued
http://www.worldpoultry.net/ne...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 13:43:04 PM UTC

Suspect H5N1 Cluster in Fayoum Egypt

Recombinomics Commentary 17:20
January 17, 2012

the patient resides District, Dar ash next to the hospital, and the sister was younger, and at the age of 22 years may She died a week ago affected infected with the same symptoms, and remains one of his relatives suffer from the same symptoms at home.

The above translation describes a suspect H5N1 cluster in Fayoum, Egypt.  The index case (22F) has died with bird flu symptoms.  Here brother (30M) is hospitalized, and any family member has symptoms.

This clusters follows a number of recent confirmed fatal cases in Egypt.  The past three confirmed adult cases have died in December (42M Menofia Dec 22; 29M Dakahlia Dec 19; F Dakahlia Dec 3) and the November case was in critical condition and on a ventilator (31F Dakahlia Nov 16).  The most recent child was the daughter of the Dakahlia case who died on Dec 3).

continued
http://www.recombinomics.com/N...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 00:05:04 AM UTC

WHO confirms 2 human H5N1 cases

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

19 January 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‪

The first case is a 2 year-old female from Cairo Governorate. She visited Helwan Fever Hospital as an outpatient on 30 October 2011 with symptoms of influenza-like-illness (ILI). The case was confirmed by RT-PCR at the Central Public Health Laboratory through periodic testing of samples collected from ILI outpatients from sentinel ILI surveillance sites. The epidemiological team investigated the case after confirmation of the laboratory test. Retrospective investigation through data collected from her family identified a positive history of exposure to backyard poultry. Samples from the case have been sent to the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) for further sequencing.

The second case is a 31 year-old male from Fayium governorate. He developed symptoms on 1 January 2012, received oseltamivir on 14 January 2012 and is still hospitalised under the critical care unit. The case was confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratory, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network. (continued)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Fri Jan 20, 2012 at 05:13:12 AM UTC

H5N1 case reported in Fayoum

By Ashraf Sadek - The Egyptian Gazette
Sunday, January 22, 2012 03:42:51 PM

FAYOUM - A 30-year-old man from the governorate of Fayoum, some 100km south of Cairo, has been diagnosed as having contracted the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the Health Ministry announced.

The man, identified only as A. H., had been admitted to el-Fayoum General Hospital on Thursday night with a high temperature before being transferred to el-Umraniya Chest Hospital in Giza for further treatment, the Ministry said.
He became the first case of the virus reported in Egypt this year since the first outbreak was announced in February 2006.

Women and children had borne the brunt of the virus due to their role in taking care of domestic fowl in Egypt.
The Ministry said the man showed symptoms including a high temperature after coming into contact with domestic poultry.

However, the patient is in a stable condition in hospital and being treated with the necessary medicine, the Ministry said.
While the H5N1 virus only rarely infects people, experts fear it could mutate into a form that humans could easily pass to one another, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

"Preventive measures have been taken and samples were taken from poultry raised at the man's home before the birds were killed. The house and chicken coops were disinfected," the Ministry said.

Egypt " the Arab world's most populous state " is on a major route for migratory birds and has seen the third highest number of H5N1 cases after Indonesia and China six years ago.

http://213.158.162.45/~egyptia...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 16:42:16 PM UTC

Anti-bird flu campaign planned

CAIRO, 26 January 2012 (IRIN) - A nationwide campaign to stop the spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt is to be launched by the government in a few weeks, say officials, but details are still sketchy.

The new plan, which will involve coordination between the Health Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry and poultry producers, requires close monitoring and various bio-safety measures.

"These measures are just a small part of a more general plan to curb the spread of the virus in our country," Saber Abdel Aziz, a senior official from the state-run General Organization for Veterinary Services, told IRIN. "We will also offer incentives to poultry growers to look for signs of illness in their animals, report sick ones, and practice bio-security."

H5N1 has infected 159 and killed 55 people in Egypt since 2006.

The most recent fatalities occurred on 19 January 2012 - a two-year-old girl from Cairo, and a 31-year-old man from Fayoum Governorate in the Nile Delta. Epidemiological investigations indicated they had both been exposed to backyard poultry.

Abdel Aziz and his colleagues at the General Organization for Veterinary Services say they will work hard to prevent this from happening again by applying bio-security prevention measures.

"Taking commonsense precautions to prevent the disease from coming onto a farm is a cornerstone of keeping the poultry healthy," he said. "But apart from these commonsense precautions, we will give training to poultry farm workers, make basic infection control, and promote the use of personal protective equipment."

Aziz said, however, that funding for the plan was still being negotiated with the Finance Ministry.

The latest two avian flu deaths, along with a Health Ministry announcement that 2011 saw the highest number of H5N1 infections ever, has created anxiety across the country. The ministry said 40 people had contracted the virus in 2011, up from 23 in 2010. More shocking still, 16 of the 40 who contracted the virus last year died.

Ineffective government?

Amr Qandeel, head of preventive medicine at the Health Ministry, attributed the rise in virus infections to a weakening supervisory role of the government.

Exactly a year has passed since the start of the Egyptian uprising. During this time there have been three different health ministers; widespread strikes and political unrest; and the police have been either in a degree of  disarray or preoccupied with containing demonstrations: Tackling H5N1 and enforcing bio-safety measures has inevitably, therefore, not been a top government priority.

In 2010, the government took measures to curb bird flu infections, including banning inter-governorate poultry movements and acting against poultry breeders who did not abide by the declared safety measures. But independent health experts like Saeed Aun say more needs to be done.

Egyptians, particularly in poor districts and the countryside, rear chickens and other animals at home. Aun describes this home breeding of birds as "risky". Unlicensed poultry farms - numbering around 40,000 - are also a challenge.

"These are places the government does not reach," Aun said. "This means that any talk about preventive measures will be futile as long as this very large number of farms is not part of the process."

http://www.irinnews.org/report...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 10:52:51 AM UTC

Bird Flu Returns

http://bikyamasr.com/56421/und...

(hattip Arkanoid Legent! and Cathy M)

With all eyes on Egypt's new parliament in January, 13 cases of the H5N1, or bird flu, were reported in Egypt, highlighting that the deadly virus was making a return to the North African country.

According to the health ministry in Egypt, Mansoura - a Delta city north of Cairo - suspected at least 13 case of people being infected with bird flu and were held at the Mansoura Chest Hospital for precaution.

Two of those cases were confirmed as being bird flu as tests on the remaining patients is ongoing.
All those suspected to be infected have been quarantined and removed from the general hospital population as a safeguard, medical officials told Bikyamasr.com.

[snip]

It is unclear what exactly that campaign will look like, but with reports continuing to circle Egypt about possible outbreaks, and two deaths, a two-year-old girl in Cairo and a 31-year-old man in Fayoum, efforts are being made to battle against the virus in Egypt.
H5N1 has infected 159 and killed 55 people in Egypt since 2006, according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics.

The ministry says that in 2011, 40 people contracted bird flu, and that number is expected to rise, officials say, as the economic situation continues to worsen in the country and rural areas are keeping their animals closer to home.

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Feb 09, 2012 at 16:28:30 PM UTC

WHO confirms 1 human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

22 February 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‪

The case is a 45 year-old female from Menofia governorate. She developed symptoms on 10 February 2012, received oseltamivir treatment on 17 February 2012 and is still recovering. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories; a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network on 18 February 2012.

Epidemiological investigation into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to backyard poultry.

Of the 160 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 55 have been fatal.  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Thu Feb 23, 2012 at 03:54:22 AM UTC

Avian influenza (H5N1) invades Egypt

Feb. 22, 2012

There has been another catastrophic break-out of Avian influenza (H5N1) in Menofia, Egypt. A 45 year old woman, her family wishes her to be anonymous, falls victim to this virus; also known as bird flu (infectious viral disease that conceives in birds).

Her symptoms began developing February 10, 2012. Symptoms include:  flu symptoms, eye infections, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, altered mental state and seizures.

She received oseltamivir treatment (used to treat or prevent influenza)  seven days later and is still in recovery.

This case was approved by the Central Public Health Laboratories; a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

http://www.examiner.com/social...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Feb 23, 2012 at 13:06:34 PM UTC

Two cases of bird flu

February 24, 2012

Egypt reports two cases of bird flu

The case reported Wednesday was a 45-year-old female from Menofia governorate. She developed symptoms on 10 February 2012, received oseltamivir (Tamiflu) treatment on 17 February 2012 and is still recovering. The case was laboratory confirmed (snip)

The second case reported to the WHO today is a one-year-old female infant from Gharbeia governorate. She developed symptoms on 14 February 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 15 February 2012, where she received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. She is in good medical condition.

full story:
http://www.examiner.com/infect...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Fri Feb 24, 2012 at 22:48:08 PM UTC

2011 Human H5N1 Sequence Cluster In Egypt

Recombinomics Commentary

In 2011 there were 39 H5N1 confirmed cases (15 fatal) in Egypt and 11 are listed in the latest WHO tree. Although the sequences and associated demographic information (age, gender, and location) have been withheld by NARMU-3 / CDC, the samples are numbered sequentially for each calendar year, so time gaps between collections can be approximated by sample number gaps, which are included in the name of the isolates. One sequence cluster is created by A/Egypt/N0544/2011, A/Egypt/N6774/2011, A/Egypt/N7724/2011, which includes an isolate from the beginning of 2011 as well as two collections from the spring / summer.

These three human sequences are on a branch which includes two poultry sequences (Snip). The sequence for the latter is at GISAID and the H5 sequence has two recently acquired non-synonymous changes (R143K and D454N), which are unlikely to significantly affect receptor binding. However, this clustering of sequences from samples collected over a long time frame in 2011 raises concerns that this sub-clade is transmitting human to human.

This concern is increased by 2010 poultry sequences which have recombined PB1 and PB2 which have acquire H1N1pdm09 and seasonal H1N1 sequences.  The most recent human H5N1 sequences from Egypt were the 19 released by NARMRU-3 almost 2 years ago.  However, only HA and NA sequences were released.  The most recent internal gene sequences from cases in Egypt are from 2006.

The recent H5N1 transmission paper by the CDC used an Egypt H5 (from a 2006 isolate from an egret (Snip).  The current human sequences in Egypt have the 3 BP deletion and similarities with seasonal H1N1, and therefore may transmit more easily than the egret sequence.  Similarly, the delayed Kawaoka paper uses H5 on a background with H1N1pdm09 genes, raising concerns that PB1 and PB2 sequences which have recombined with H1N1pdm09 and seasonal H1N1 may transmit more efficiently. (Snip) http://www.recombinomics.com/N...  

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Sun Feb 26, 2012 at 14:31:07 PM UTC

WHO confirms 2 human H5N1 cases, both fatal

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

28 February 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The first case is a thirty-two year old male from Behira governorate, in the Abo Elmatameer District. He developed symptoms on 16 February 2012 and was admitted to hospital on 21 February 2012 where he received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. He died on 28 February 2012.

The second case was a thirty seven year-old female from Kafr Elshihk governorate in the Kelleen District. She developed symptoms on 18 February 2012 and was admitted to hospital on 23 February 2012 where she received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. She died on 26 February 2012.

Preliminary investigations into both cases with regard to the source of infection indicate close contact with sick or deceased backyard poultry at the cases' respective residences. (snip) Of the 163 cases confirmed to date in Egypt 57 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Wed Feb 29, 2012 at 05:59:06 AM UTC

With high-tech system, Egypt hopes to avoid possible pandemic

Friday, 02 March 2012

By Louise Sarant

H5N1, also known as avian influenza or bird flu, has apparently found a perfect environment to thrive in Egypt. Since the initial onset of the virus back in 2006, new outbreaks of the flu have occurred every single year, making Egypt one of the world's few endemic countries for the virus, along with Indonesia and Peru. The government, taking the threat of a pandemic seriously, has launched annual vaccination campaigns to mitigate the number of fatalities in Egypt, which made up 55 of the 159 total reported cases according to the World Health Organization.

full story
http://english.alarabiya.net/a...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 04:10:10 AM UTC

Peru?

Ms. Sarant needs to check her facts (or her sources).  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 04:14:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You picked up on that too.

I read that and thought "Peru?" Huh? they have never had an H5N1 case, human or poultry.

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 04:38:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

WHO confirms fatal human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

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.  

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 04:24:26 AM UTC

Two new cases of human infection with bird flu

Thanks to Ruby Murray

Egypt has reported the seventh and eighth cases of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza in 2012 according to a World Health Organization (WHO) Global Alert Response (GAR). ...

The first case is a 2 year-old female from Demiatta Governorate. She developed symptoms on 19 March 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 20 March 2012 where she received oseltamivir. She is still under treatment and in good medical condition. ....

The second case is a 15 year-old female from Giza Governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 March 2012 and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition on 29 March 2012. She received oseltamivir on admission. She died on 31 March 2012.

In the case of the two-year-old, an investigation showed she had exposure to dead backyard poultry. As for the fatal case of the 15-year-old, the investigation into the source of the infection is ongoing.

http://www.examiner.com/infect...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 21:42:22 PM UTC

WHO confirmation...

...is here

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

2 April 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The first case is a 2 year-old female from Demiatta Governorate. She developed symptoms on 19 March 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 20 March 2012 where she received oseltamivir. She is still under treatment and in good medical condition. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories (NIC) on 22 of March 2012.

Epidemiological investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to dead backyard poultry.

The second case is a 15 year-old female from Giza Governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 March 2012 and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition on 29 March 2012. She received oseltamivir on admission. She died on 31 March 2012. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories (NIC) on 31 March 2012.

Epidemiological investigations into the source of infection is ongoing.

Of the 166 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 59 have been fatal.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 04:15:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

WHO confirms fatal human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

12 April 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 36 year-old female from Giza governorate. She developed symptoms on 1 April 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 7 April 2012 and died on the same day.

The case was confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories; a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Epidemiological investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to backyard poultry.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Fri Apr 13, 2012 at 04:08:15 AM UTC

Egypt's Real Crisis: The Dual Epidemics Quietly Ravaging Public Health

By Laurie Garrett & Steven A. Cook
May 14 2012, 7:01 AM

A combination of avian flu and foot and mouth disease risk destroying the protein supply, eroding public trust, and further destabilizing the Arab world's most populous country.

Lost in the recent political jockeying and protest violence leading up to Egypt's May 23 presidential elections is the unfolding public health disaster there. Avian flu and foot and mouth disease are running rampant, killing people and livestock as well as inflating the price of food. It's a serious health and economic issue, but it has potentially much larger implications for Egypt, and this little-discussed crisis is beginning to resemble those that occur in failed states.

The Egyptian state, which was not particularly well-prepared for public emergencies even before the February 2011 revolution brought it into near-chaos, has little capacity to cope with the outbreaks threatening not only Egypt, but also Sudan, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jordan. Egypt's public health infrastructure barely functions. The sort of social service that groups like the Muslim Brotherhood have provided over many years, it falls far short of what is needed to combat the current crisis. Cairo does not have the money to throw at the problem, having burned through more than half of its foreign currency reserves in the 15 months since Mubarak's fall.

Ground zero for Egypt's public health emergency is Libya, where last year, in the midst of civil war, foot and mouth disease swept through the country, killing more than 10 percent of its sheep and cattle. Smugglers subsequently brought infected sheep across the Libyan border, setting off a foot and mouth disease (FMD) wildfire that Egyptian officials have been unable to slow.

full article
http://www.theatlantic.com/int...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Tue May 15, 2012 at 01:58:43 AM UTC

WHO confirms 1 human H5N1 case

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

7 June 2012 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

The case is a four year-old female from Kfr -Elsheikh governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 April 2012, was admitted to a hospital on 26 April 2012 and received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. She was discharged from the hospital on 7 May 2012.

Investigations into the source of infection indicated that the case had exposure to backyard poultry. (continued)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Fri Jun 08, 2012 at 03:37:18 AM UTC

Egypt produces new avian flu vaccine

BY Amina Abdul Salam
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 05:32:22 PM

Egypt heads the list of global deaths due to infection with the H5N1avian flu virus, followed by Indonesia and then Vietnam. Since the virus hit Egypt in February 2006, 60 million birds have been officially culled to date and the costs of poultry production have continuously risen.

Given this background, a welcome announcement was made yesterday by the National Research Centre (NRC) in Cairo of the first vaccine against what is popularly known as 'bird flu' to be produced by Egyptian scientists. The Government has been importing vaccine at high prices so as to fight this national problem and the new vaccine is now available in the local market at LE305 (about $60) for 100 doses.

continued
http://213.158.162.45/~egyptia...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Thu Jun 14, 2012 at 10:04:50 AM UTC

Isolation and mutation trend analysis of influenza A virus subtype H9N2

snip

The results demonstrated conserved genetic and biological constitution of H9N2 viruses in the Middle East. The recently isolated H9N2 virus from chicken in Egypt possessed amino acids that could enable the virus to replicate in mammals and caused severe disease in domestic chickens.

Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of the mutations evolved in avian influenza viruses and its impact on virulence to avian species in addition to its importance in the emergence of new strains with the capacity to be a pandemic candidate.

Author: Ahmed S Abdel-MoneimManal A AfifiMagdy F El-Kady
Credits/Source: Virology Journal 2012, 9:173

http://7thspace.com/headlines/...

Published on: 2012-08-27


United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Aug 28, 2012 at 13:46:37 PM UTC

Suspected H5N1 in three brothers

Via Treyfish's H5N1 Pandemic Information News: Egypt- 3 Brothers suspected bird flu. The story is a computer translation that really doesn't help much. But my friend and longtime colleague Dr. Azza Sedky is Egyptian and the author of Egypt, a much-read English/Arabic blog on Egyptian politics. I asked her for a translation, and this is what she sent:
(thanks Treyfish)

Bird flu infected brothers cause panic at Menia's Health Department

In Menia by Emad Maher

Today, Saturday, the Health Department in Menia announced a state of emergency and took all the necessary measures after suspecting three brothers had caught the bird flu.

The Health Department announced that brothers Aly Ahmed Farouk, 19 years; Hamada, 16; and Hazim, 9; all living in the village of Manshiet Galal, from the Beny Mazar area in Menia, are suspected to have bird flu. The three brothers were first quarantined at the Beny Mazar Hospital, where they were kept under close observation, and then they were transferred to the Menia Hospital for tropical diseases. Blood samples taken from the three were sent to a lab in Cairo for analysis.

At the same time, a health team formed of a veterinarian, a physician, and security forces visited the patients' home and other homes in the vicinity for decontamination purposes and to guarantee that the poultry on the premises are not infected.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Sep 16, 2012 at 13:53:39 PM UTC

H5N1 dual-use workshop, H5N1 strains

Nov 19, 2012

snip

The studies revealed, among other things, that a mutation involving loss of a glycosylation site at HA positions 154-156 appears to be critical for H5 virus transmission in mammals, according to the PLoS Pathogens article.

When the team examined available HA sequences from avian H5N1 viruses, they found that more than 70% of Egyptian isolates lacked the HA 154-156 glycosylation site, versus about 25% of isolates from Vietnam and none from Indonesia. An analysis of human isolates from the three countries revealed a similar pattern. In addition, the researchers say the mutation PB2-627K, which is known to be involved in mammalian adaptation of avian flu viruses, is found in most H5N1 isolates from Egypt.

snip

full article

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Nov 20, 2012 at 11:53:43 AM UTC

Egypt H5N1 Matches In Fatal 2011 Cases Raise Concerns

November 15, 2012

The CDC has released a series of H5N1 sequences from cases in Egypt.  Full sets of sequences were released for cases through the end of 2011.  The three most recent sets were from fatal cases who died in December, 2011.  The first case (F), A/Egypt/N11126/2011 was 24 weeks pregnant and developed symptoms on November 26 (which was also true for her young child, who was also H5N1 confirmed, but survived).  The mother died on December 3 (the sample was collected on December 1, when the mother was admitted) and was from Dakahlia Governorate.

full article

http://www.recombinomics.com/N...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Nov 24, 2012 at 05:57:57 AM UTC

5-year analysis shows antigenic drift in H5N1 viruses in Egypt

An analysis of H5N1 avian flu strains isolated from Egyptian patients from 2007 through 2011 found little evidence of reassortment but substantial antigenic drift, according to a report yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

US and Egyptian investigators sequenced the complete genomes of 59 H5N1 virus isolates and 13 hemagglutinin (HA) genes sequenced directly from clinical specimens of 72 patients. "We found minimal evidence of reassortment and no exotic introductions," they wrote. "The hemagglutinin genes of the viruses from 2011 formed a monophyletic group within clade 2.2.1 that also included human viruses from 2009 and 2010 and contemporary viruses from poultry; this finding is consistent with zoonotic transmission." While they found little evidence of reassortment, they observed "substantial antigenic drift" when they performed HA inhibition tests using ferret antisera and compared results against a panel of H5N1 viruses. Egypt confirmed 158 human H5N1 cases during the study period.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

Microevolution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Isolated from Humans, Egypt, 2007-2011

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/artic...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Dec 16, 2012 at 15:17:48 PM UTC

Diversity of H5N1 strains in Egypt poses challenges for vaccination

The antigenic diversity of H5N1 influenza viruses circulating in Egyptian poultry as well as an emerging clade, 2.2.1.1, poses mounting challenges for vaccination programs for both animals and humans in the country, says a study slated to appear in the Jan 20 issue of Virology.
Egypt has seen highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N1 subtype since 2006. Control measures, including a poultry vaccination program undertaken at that time, have largely failed, and the virus became endemic in the country by 2008.

In addition, nearly 170 human cases have occurred. The authors used antigenic cartography and principal component analysis to assess the antigenic characteristics of H5N1 viruses circulating from 2007 through 2010. A total of 26 HPAI H5N1 viruses in poultry located through phylogenetic trees of amino acid sequences were used as prototypes for antigenic characterization. The researchers found that in 2010, multiple antigenic clusters co-circulated in Egypt, even in the same province, and they identified antigenic differences both between and within H5N1 clades, including clade 2.2.1 and the newly recognized clade 2.2.1.1.

The authors say their results "emphasize the need to monitor constantly the genetic and antigenic evolution of H5N1 viruses in endemic countries such as Egypt in order to make educated decisions on vaccine candidates for humans and animals."

Jan 20 Virology article abstract

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 13:04:50 PM UTC

WHO reports Egyptian H5N1 death

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

(This CIDRAP story includes details of the most recent H5N1 case reported (with no details) by WHO on Feb. 15).

Feb 18, 2013 (CIDRAP News) - A 36-year-old Egyptian woman from Beheira governorate recently died from an H5N1 avian influenza infection, pushing the world's number of infections reported so far this year to 10, according to an update on the disease from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The woman started having symptoms on Jan 16 and was hospitalized and started on oseltamivir (Tamiflu) treatment on Jan 20. She died on Jan 26. An investigation into the source of her illness found that she had been exposed to sick poultry before she got sick. Beheira governorate is in northern Egypt's Nile Delta. (continued)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Feb 19, 2013 at 02:44:56 AM UTC

H5N1 sickens Egyptian woman

40-year-old Egyptian woman from Menofia governorate who became ill after contact with sick poultry tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, according to a Thu 21 Mar 2013 report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). She got sick on 3 Mar 2013 a few days after close contact with sick and dead backyard ducks and chickens. If the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms the case, the woman's illness will be counted as Egypt's 171st case, of whom 61 have been fatal.

The tests were conducted at Egypt's Central Public Health Laboratories. News of her illness appeared in the FAO's monthly Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) highly pathogenic avian flu situation update. Egypt has had only one other H5N1 case this year, a fatal one.

http://www.promedmail.org/dire...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Wed Mar 27, 2013 at 09:23:37 AM UTC

Man dies of bird flu

Wednesday 17 Apr 2013

An Egyptian health ministry official has confirmed the second human death from bird flu (avian influenza virus) in 2013, state-run news agency MENA reported on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old man, who died in Daqahliya governorate (northeast of Cairo), is one of three people infected with the virus this year, said health ministry under-secretary Amr Qandil.

The H5N1 virus, which first hit Egypt in February 2006, can infect humans in close contact with birds.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/Ne...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Wed Apr 17, 2013 at 12:04:45 PM UTC

FAO paints bleak picture of H5N1 control efforts

A new report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says Egypt's poultry production sector is riddled with gaps that hobble efforts to control H5N1 avian influenza, which has been endemic in the country since 2008.

The problems include weak farm biosecurity measures, wide and unregulated use of variable vaccination protocols by commercial farms, co-circulation of H5N1 and H9N2, household producers' ignorance of the importance of quarantining newly bought birds, unregulated live-bird trading, and weak movement control.

Further, "some specialized traders actually profit from the disease by purchasing birds known to be infected at very low prices and reselling them via door-to-door peddlers or to the slaughterhouse, which in turn sells frozen birds to the fast food outlets," the report says. It predicts that H5N1 will continue to circulate in Egypt as long as poor biosecurity conditions persist.

continued
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sat May 04, 2013 at 12:56:35 PM UTC