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Bird flu arrived comparatively late to Egypt, with a flurry of human infections first appearing in 2006. In short order the virus spread widely throughout the region and is now considered to be endemic in Egypt.
The above map is a screen shot from an interactive map showing the human and poultry outbreaks of bird flu in Egypt over the past year. This map can be accessed via the SAIDR website.
Last year there were only 8 human cases of H5N1 infection reported in Egypt. In the first 10 weeks of 2009, Egypt has already seen 7 cases.
The only good news is that thus far, there have been no fatalities in 2009. Egypt's fatality rate is currently running half that of Indonesia, sitting at just under 40%.
Unlike most other countries battling bird flu, Egypt does not have a compensation program for farmers who lose birds due to culling. As a result, many people are reluctant cooperate and notify authorities if their birds sicken or die.
IRIN News has a pretty good background piece on Egypt's recent human cases, and the problems authorities have in controlling the virus. I've just posted the opening paragraphs. Follow the link for the full story.
IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks)was founded in 1995, and is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. While technically a part of the UN, it maintains editorial independence, and its reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations and its agencies, not its member states.
EGYPT: Bird flu cases among young children raise concerns
Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Health and PopulationLive poultry on sale on the streets of Cairo (file photo)
CAIRO, 12 March 2009 (IRIN) - An 18-month-old child contracted the H5N1 bird flu virus on 10 March, bringing the number of human cases in Egypt to 58 since records began in 2006, and prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to ask for a study to be undertaken of the causes.
The child - from Manoufiya Province in northern Egypt - is one of several recent cases of young children to have contracted the deadly virus in a country where over five million families raise poultry for a living.
Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shahin told IRIN the girl exhibited symptoms of infection on 6 March after reported contact with infected birds. She was taken to hospital on 9 March and given the antiviral vaccine Tamiflu.
"Her case has stabilised but she will remain at the hospital for further check-ups," Shahin said.
The child’s case is the latest in a rapidly growing number of cases of child infection in Egypt, causing concern among WHO officials.
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