The Egyptian Ministry of Health (computer translated) is reporting an additional human case of H5N1 avian influenza, the 22nd of the year to date. The patient is a 5-year-old child from Nuba Aswan governorate.
The boy suffered from fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing and was taken to an Aswan University hospital on Monday and was admitted to intensive care and put on a respirator.
Unfortunately, the child died on Wednesday becoming the 10th H5N1 bird flu fatality of the year.
The boy’s mother says he had close contact with sick birds.
The Egypt MOH is calling on the public to go immediately to the nearest hospital to receive health service if they have flu symptoms. They say starting treatment with Tamiflu during the first 24 hours of the onset of symptoms increases the chances of recovery.
In addition, health authorities are advising people who deal with poultry to exercise caution and prudence when dealing with birds that show symptoms of the disease and to take preventive action to prevent such infection.
The MOH offers the following recommendations: Cover your mouth and nose when handling poultry, wash hands with soap and water after handling birds and keep children away from birds.
Since 2003, 676 human H5N1 avian influenza cases have been reported to the World Health Organization, approximately 60 percent died from their disease. Egypt follow only Indonesia in total number of cases reported since 2003.
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