Egyptian health authorities have confirmed an additional human case of H5N1 avian influenza (AI) in a 2-year-old child from Sohag governorate, according to a Forbes report (computer translated).
The report notes the child was suffering from fever, cough and sore throat after exposure to birds. The toddler was admitted at a hospital in Sohag on Thursday and given the drug “Tamiflu”. H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed by the central laboratory of the Ministry of health and is currently in stable condition.
This is the 15th H5Ni AI case reported by the health ministry in 2014.
Numerous health warnings have been issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Health in light of the H5N1 AI outbreak to include the risks of trading in live birds, increasing awareness of AI in rural districts and starting bird vaccination campaigns to slow the spread of the disease.
In Minya governorate, where the bulk of the human AI cases have been reported since November, special ambulance crews dedicated to the transport and to deal with patients with suspected bird flu have been established.
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