The Health Ministry on Wednesday announced the appearance of another case of the H5N1 virus, bringing the total number of documented cases in Egypt to 122 since the virus--also known as avian or bird flu--first emerged in 2006. The patient, a female resident of the Qalyubiya Governorate, is currently receiving treatment at a Cairo hospital. According to a ministry statement, her symptoms include high fever and breathing difficulties. She contracted the illness after coming into contact with poultry suspected of having been infected with the virus, the statement noted, adding that she remained in critical condition despite having been treated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu on arrival to the hospital. The last time an Egyptian succumbed to the H5N1 virus was in April. That case brought the total number of bird flu fatalities in Egypt to 34. According to the World Health Organization, Egypt has reported the third largest number of avian flu cases worldwide. The majority of H5N1 cases in Egypt have come as the result of close contact with infected domestic poultry. Approximately five million Egyptian families depend on domestically-raised poultry as an important source of both food and income. Since July, more than 16,000 people have been infected with the avian flu worldwide, resulting in the death of 265 people. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
