18.03.2006

A 30-year-old Egyptian woman has died of avian influenza, the country's first human victim of the virus, Egypt's health ministry said on Saturday.
The first case of suspected human infection with Avian influenza was discovered when a 30 year-old woman from a village in the governorate of El-Qalubia (about 40 kms [25 miles] north of Cairo) was admitted to Abassiya Puliminary Hospital on Wednesday 15/3/2006, after being transferred from Qalboub Fever Hospital where she had showed symptoms of high fever and difficulty breathing. Tamiflu was immediately administered to the woman as soon as suspicions arose that she may have been infected with Avian influenza virus. She was isolated from other patients in a private room and transferred to the hospitals intensive care unit where specimens were taken for testing at the central laboratories of the Ministry of Health and Population, as well as the American research unit NAMRU 3. Testing proved positive for Avian influenza. The woman died on Friday morning 17/3/2006
In line with World Health Organization regulations, confirmation of infection can only be made after laboratory testing at a United Nations certified laboratory. Specimens taken from the woman are currently being sent to these laboratories for confirmation.
It should be noted that the woman reared fowl domestically, a number of which had died 10 days ago. At that point the woman slaughtered and cleaned the remaining fowl herself. Specimens of those in contact with the flock, including the woman’s husband, children and brothers, are currently being tested at the Ministry of Health’s central laboratories. All of the above are in good health and show no symptoms of disease.
Egypt confirmed its first H5N1 outbreak in poultry on 17 February. The virus has since been reported in 18 of the country’s 26 governorates.