The Ministry of Health announced yesterday that Zainab Hilal Mahmoud, 4, from Ezbat al-Sheikh, Kafr al-Sheikh governorate was infected with bird flu, thus taking the number of human bird flu cases to 78. Abdel Rahman Shahin, spokesman for the Ministry, said Mahmoud's health condition is stable. She will be taken to Manshiyat al-Bakri hospital for further treatment.
The Ministry has again warned people not to buy Tamiflu drug from any pharmacy or institution. They stress that civilians should only be given this drug after thorough examinations performed by the Ministry of Health's hospitals, whereby a positive result to the bid flu has been confirmed. The Ministry has also warned pharmacists not to buy or sell Tamiflu, as Article 59 of the code of practicing pharmaceutics does not give pharmacies the right to sell that drug. Maj. Gen. Abdel Salam Mahgoub, Minister of Local Development, said the Supreme Committee to Combat Bird Flu will hold a meeting within days to discuss the findings of the Ministry of Agriculture's technical committees in order to construct a new strategy for fighting bird flu. The meeting will enforce Law 70/2009 and prohibit selling live birds in shops or transfer them between provinces.
He stressed that the tight security at the entrances and exits of towns will confiscate vehicles carrying live birds. The birds will then be executed by veterinary officials.
With regard to the spread of the disease and current procedures for combating, Benha Fever Hospital admitted three women and a girl on suspicion of being infected with bird flu. Abdel Atti Abdel Alim, head of Preventive Medicine, said the four patients are Rabha Ibrahim Abdel Hamid, 29, Fatma Mohamed Ahmed Khouli, 30, Faten Fathy Fahmy, 20, and Nermeen Mohamed Abdel Fatah, 7. Blood samples were taken for analysis.
In Dakahlia, Mansoura Chest Hospital received three new cases; Mariam Mohamed Ezat, 2, Adel Mahmoud al-Naggar, 5, and Ahmed Sami Abdel Maguid, 5. Blood and saliva samples were taken from them and sent to the Ministry of Health's laboratories. Twelve of the suspected cases were discharged from hospital yesterday after their result came back negative.
In Beheira, there have been three new suspected cases; Nadia Abdel Shafi Abdel Hadi, 9, Fatma Wageih Abdel Wahid, 3, Manar Fawzi Ali, 32.
Damietta Fever Hospital received Al-Sayeed Hassan Abdel Fattah,7. A blood and saliva sample were taken from him and sent to the Ministry of Health's laboratories. 639 birds were culled and 125 roosters were removed in Kafr Al-Bateikh and Meet Abu Ghaleb villages. Preventative measures have been taken and the birds have been buried under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.
In Port Said, more than 2000 birds have been executed within the framework of the actions taken by the governorate to combat bird flu.
