SEE BRIEF UPDATE AT BOTTOM
# 5162
An evolving situation we’ve been watching for the past 24 hours has concerned reports in the Arabic media of at least one bird flu fatality, and several other H5N1 suspected cases.
Today, Al-Masry Al-Youm’s English Edition has a report that appears to confirm some of the stories picked up from the Arabic press by the flu forum newshounds yesterday.
Swine and bird flu infections claim three lives in Daqahlia
Sun, 19/12/2010 - 11:48
Egyptian officials on Saturday announced the death of three Daqahlia Governorate residents by swine and bird flu infection.
A Ministry of Health statement claimed two of the cases were H1N1, commonly known as “swine flu," with one H5N1, dubbed "bird flu," case. The ages of the victims ranged between 44-50 years old.
<SNIP DETAILS ON FLU TESTING>
Three were announced H5N1 positive, with six others diagnosed in rudimentary stages of infection.
There is still a certain degree of ambiguity in this report, with the mixing of H1N1 and H5N1 cases in the same paragraphs.
I’ve no idea which virus the `six others diagnosed in rudimentary stages of infection’ referred to in the last paragraph are suspected to have.
Perhaps they aren’t sure. Based on its position in the story, however, H5N1 would seem implied.
For now, I think it safe to say this media report appears to confirm 1 previously undisclosed H5N1 fatality (presumably case #115), and strongly suggests 3 other cases have tested positive.
As for the rest, hopefully we’ll get an official statement from the Ministry of Health in the next day or so that will clarify matters.
For now, however, it certainly appears that with the arrival of cooler weather, H5N1 activity in Egypt is heating up.
BRIEF UPDATE:
I continue to hold many of the reservations I expressed yesterday about this report. Even though this report came from the (usually reliable) English Language edition of Al-Masry Al-Youm, I’m inclined to be a bit skeptical of some of H5N1 case counts provided.
Until we see corroborating stories, or (better yet) a statement from the Ministry of Health, I’m going to consider these reports as somewhat suspect.
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