Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 2

22 January 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.