27 March 2014 – The Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt recently reported two new human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infections to WHO. These cases were reported after no other cases had been reported for almost one year. One of the cases was a 56-year-old female from Damanhour district of Behaira governorate with onset of symptoms on 6 March 2014. The other case was a 4-year-old male, from Damietta district of Damietta governorate with onset of symptoms on 7 March 2014. Both the cases are currently admitted in the hospital and receiving appropriate treatment. The cases were laboratory-confirmed at the Central Public Health Laboratory in Egypt which is also a national influenza centre, as well as at US NAMRU-3, a WHO reference laboratory for diagnosis of influenza A(H5N1) infection.
Field investigations into the source of infection revealed that both the cases had contact with sick and dead poultry (ducks and chickens). To date, a total of 175 human cases, including 63 deaths, have been reported in Egypt from avian influenza A(H5N1).
| Year | Cases | Deaths | Case–fatality rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 18 | 10 | 55.5 |
| 2007 | 25 | 9 | 36 |
| 2008 | 8 | 4 | 50 |
| 2009 | 39 | 4 | 10.2 |
| 2010 | 29 | 13 | 44.8 |
| 2011 | 39 | 15 | 38.4 |
| 2012 | 11 | 5 | 45.4 |
| 2013 | 4 | 3 | 75 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 175 | 63 | 36 |
Read Volume 7 Issue 12 of the EPI Weekly Epidemiological Monitor, Sunday 23 March