Avian influenza, Egypt - Update

1 June 2006

Volume 32

Number 11

On 18 May 2006, the Ministry of Health in Egypt confirmed the country's 14^th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case, a 75-year-old woman from the Al Minya governorate, developed symptoms on 11 May and died on 18 May.

As with all other cases in Egypt, her infection has been linked to exposure to diseased birds.

Of the 14 cases in Egypt, six have been fatal.

Cholera, Angola - Update

As of 16 May 2006, Angola had reported a total of 35,775 cases and 1,298 deaths (case-fatality rate (CFR), 4%). On one day alone (17 May), 546 new cases including 31 deaths were reported. Eleven out of 18 provinces are affected; 51% of all cases, occurred in Luanda and 21% in Benguela Province. The CFR, broken down by province, ranges between 1% and 30%. Even if current trends show a decline in the provinces of Benguela and Luanda, a daily incidence of around 600 cases is still reported.

The National Laboratory of Public Health confirmed the isolation of Vibrio cholerae 01 serotype Inaba in nine out of 13 samples. The Ministry of Health,WHO and other partners continue to develop field activities to control the outbreak: daily coordination meetings; house-to-house visits for following up of contacts; disinfestations; collection of specimens for bacteriological laboratory examination; distribution of safe drinking-water and chlorine; dissemination of preventive measures through the local media and distribution of health education materials by social mobilization groups.

WHO sent six international experts to reinforce the national team in providing support for coordination, water and sanitation, logistics and epidemiological surveillance.

Source : WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 81, No. 21, 2006.