This infographic provides an overview of the H5N1 situation in Egypt as of March 2016. Click here to view .

15 April 2016 – An upsurge of human infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was recorded in Egypt during the 2014–2015 winter season but no change in transmission pattern of infection was observed.

• 350 cumulative cases of human avian influenza A (H5N1) and 117 deaths (case–fatality rate 33%) were reported from Egypt as of 24 March 2016. 4 newly confirmed human H5N1 avian influenza cases were reported from Cairo, Giza and Sohag governorates in the first quarter of 2016.
• Djibouti and Iraq reported only 4 cases (with 2 deaths) of human avian influenza A (H5N1) in 2006.

3 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus were reported from Egypt, and cases were detected through influenza-like illness/severe acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance.

The majority of recently reported human avian influenza A(H5N1) virus cases in Egypt were associated with exposure to infected live poultry or contaminated environments.

Surveillance has been enhanced in Egypt to detect human infections if they occur and to detect early changes in transmissibility and infectivity of the viruses.

Support and technical advice were extended to Ministry of Health in Egypt in outbreak investigation, training and provision of laboratory equipment and linkages with WHO collaborating centres for shipment of samples.

This infographic provides an overview of the H5N1 situation in Egypt as of 31 May 2015. Click here to viewA total of 342 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) were reported in Egypt between March 2006 to 30 April 2015. Of these cases, 115 were fatal (CFR: 33.6%). The country has experienced a surge of human cases since November 2014. A total of 163 cases including 47 deaths (CFR: 28.8%) were reported between 01 November 2014 to 30 April 2015. Cases have been reported from 21 out of 29 governorates in the country. The date of symptoms onset of last reported case of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in the country was 6th of April 2015. After the laboratory confirmation of this last reported case on 14 April, no further case was reported in the country.

Amongst the cases reported during the recent surge (n=163), majority of cases were females (60%), compared to males who comprised of the remaining 40% cases. Comparatively a higher death rate (30%) was observed amongst the female cases compared to the males. Children in the under five years age group (29%) and those in the age group of 30 to 45 years (30%) were most at risk of acquiring the infection. However, children in the under 5 years age group had the lowest case fatality rate (6%).

There is significant variation in the death rate between those who received antiviral treatment within 48 hours of onset of symptoms compared to those who received antiviral treatment after 48 hours (11% versus 32%)