Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update

14 January 2009 -- The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case is a 21-months old female from 6th October Governorate, Kerdasa District whose symptoms began on 9 January 2009.

She was initially hospitalized on 10 January and is currently in a stable condition. Infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus was diagnosed by PCR at the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and subsequently confirmed by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) laboratories.

Investigations into the source of her infection indicate a recent history of contact with sick and dead poultry.

Of the 52 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 have been fatal.