The Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) is reporting four additional human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, where three of the cases resulted in death, according to a MOH statement (computer translated).

H5N1 avian influenza Image/Cynthia Goldsmith/ Jackie Katz
H5N1 avian influenza
Image/Cynthia Goldsmith/ Jackie Katz

The four new cases include three people from Minya governorate and one woman from Beni Suef governorate.

Translated, the statement notes a 2-year-old girl from Minya is recovering, while a 40-year-old male from Minya died soon after admission as he was suffering from double pneumonia.

The third patient, a 29-year-old woman from Minya died soon after arriving at the hospital and the fourth case, a 25-year-old woman from  Beni Suef, who had a history of exposure to birds, was treated with Tamiflu but still succumbed to the lethal virus.

Egypt health officials say they will step up measures for early detection of the bird flu and promote awareness in the public. The MOH tells people with exposure to poultry and have flu symptoms to go immediately to the hospital where they could get Tamiflu treatment if caught soon enough. In addition, the Health Ministry advised people who deal with poultry to cover their mouth and nose when handling poultry, wash hands with soap and water after handling birds and to not bring children to the poultry or slaughter places.

These newest cases brings Egypt’s total to 12, 11 reported by the Egypt MOH and one case reported by the Ministry of Health of Beheira governorate. There has been 5 H5N1 AI fatalities to date in 2014.