Egyptian woman confirmed as bird flu carrier
July 26th, 2007
Egypt’s 38th human case of avian influenza infection was confirmed this week as a woman aged 25. The infection is believed to be the result of contact with dead poultry in the woman’s household. She resides in the Nile Delta province of Damietta, northern Egypt. Bird flu cases in Egypt are rare during the summer months, however the woman developed high fever and was subsequently treated with Tamiflu.
15 Egyptians have so far succumbed to the disease since the first cases were discovered in the country last year. It is the single most affected country outside Asia at the moment. Millions of household across Egypt depend on poultry as their main source of food as well as income. This is making efforts to eradicate the disease very difficult.