Following up on reports yesterday of four new human H5N1 avian influenza (AI) cases, including three deaths in Egypt, local media reports on an additional case from Minya governorate (computer translated).
The report states a 25-year-old woman from one of the villages of Minya Center, was suffering from fever, cough and shortness of breath after exposure to sick and dead birds.
She was isolated on Nov. 28 and treated with Tamiflu. She is currently in stable condition.
This is the 12th H5N1 AI case reported by the Egyptian Ministry of Health in 2014, the report notes. A 13th case was reported by the Ministry of Health of Beheira governorate earlier this year.
HPAI H5N1 virus can infect the respiratory tract of humans. When people develop illness from HPAI H5N1 virus infection, severe respiratory illness (e.g. pneumonia and respiratory failure) and death may occur, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The majority of HPAI H5N1 cases have occurred among children and adults younger than 40 years old. Mortality has been highest in people aged 10-19 years old and young adults. Most human HPAI H5N1 cases have presented late in their illness for medical care and have been hospitalized with severe respiratory disease. However, some clinically mild HPAI H5N1 cases have been reported, especially in children.
In the majority of cases, the person got HPAI H5N1 virus infection after direct or close contact with sick or dead infected poultry.
