Increase in bird flu infections due to greater exposure: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) attributed the rising number of H5N1 (a strain of bird flu) infections in Egypt to increased exposure to infected poultry, based on the findings of a WHO delegation that visited the country.

The organizations that conducted the study in March were the WHO, UNICEF, the World Organization for Animal Health, and the Food and Agricultural Organization. 

“Based on all the evidence we have, we believe the upsurge is not explained by changes to the virus itself,” said Dr Keiji Fukuda, WHO assistant director-general for health security and head of the H5N1 investigation team in Egypt. “The most likely reason for the increase in cases is that more poultry in Egypt are now infected with H5N1 and so more people have been exposed.”

Between November 2014 and April 2015, 165 cases of bird flu were reported, of which 48 died, according to the report. This is the highest number of cases reported by a country over such period of time.

The WHO delegation arrived in Egypt on March 8 to investigate the growing number of bird flu infections nationwide days after the Health Ministry announced the death of another two women due to the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, along with the confirmed infection of a third.

The report recommended stricter and more efficient surveillance procedures for animals and humans, in addition to the development of disease control programs that include health care for both.

Also in March, the Health Ministry announced the implementation of a new program to combat the virus, worth LE140 million.