Three New Human Cases Of Bird Flu Infection, All Children, Egypt

Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population officials have confirmed three new human cases of bird flu infection with the A(H5N1) virus strain. Both the US Naval Medical Research Unit Number 3 (NAMRU-3) and the Central Public Health Lab (Egypt) have confirmed.


The three cases include:


-- A 4-year-old boy, brother to a 6-year-old girl who was recently infected. He is from Qena Governate. He developed bird flu like symptoms on March 26th and was hospitalized three days later.


-- A 7-year-old boy from Sohag Governate. He became ill on March 26th and was hospitalized three days later.


-- A 4-year-old girl from Qalubiea Governate. She became ill on March 29th and was hospitalized the following day.


Hospital spokespeople say that all three children are in a 'stable condition'. Investigations so far indicate that all three children had been in contact with dead (probably infected) birds. All relatives and close contacts of these children seem to be healthy.


So far 32 humans have become infected with bird flu (H5N1) in Egypt, of which 13 have died.


-- Bird Flu = Avian Flu

-- H5N1 is the virulent avian flu virus strain (the one everyone is worried about)


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