EGYPT
The Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt has announced two new cases of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. The first case is a 50 year old female from Domiatt Governorate. She was hospitalized on 24 December and is in critical condition.
The second case is a 22 year old female chicken seller from Menofia Governorate. She was hospitalized on 26 December and is presently recovering in intensive care.
Both women had contact with sick and dead poultry prior to illness onset.
Of the 41 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 16 have been fatal.
VIETNAM
The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has confirmed a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. The case has been confirmed by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).
The case is a 4 year old male from Son La Province. He developed symptoms on 7 December, was hospitalized on 11 December and died on 16 December.
Control measures have been implemented and close contacts have been identified. All remain healthy and will continue to be monitored. The source of exposure is currently under investigation.
Of the 101 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 47 have been fatal.
PAKISTAN
The first case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in Pakistan. Laboratory tests conducted by the WHO H5 Reference Laboratory in Cairo, Egypt and WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza, in London, United Kingdom have confirmed the presence of avian influenza virus strain A(H5N1) in samples collected from one case in an affected family. The H5N1 positive case was a 25 year old male from the Peshawar area who developed febrile respiratory illness on 21 November, was hospitalized on 23 November, and died on 28 November. Additional laboratory analysis, including gene sequencing, is ongoing.
At the request of the Pakistan Government, a WHO team traveled to Pakistan to participate with national authorities in the ongoing investigations of several suspected cases of human H5N1 infections. The following conclusions have been made accordingly:
The preliminary risk assessment found no evidence of sustained or community human to human transmission.
All identified close contacts including the other members of the affected family and involved health care workers remain asymptomatic and have been removed from close medical observation.
The Ministry of Health in Pakistan has taken timely steps to investigate and contain this event including case isolation, contact tracing and monitoring, detailed epidemiological investigations, increasing the availability of personal protective equipment, dedicating hospital facilities for any new suspected cases, and other infection control measures. In addition, agricultural authorities, including the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and FAO, have been active technical partners for the effective control of this limited outbreak.