Third family member dies from bird flu
The World Health Organisation has confirmed the two bird flu deaths reported this week in Egypt, and announced a third death from bird flu from a member of the same extended Egyptian family.
All of the victims are believed to have had individual contact with infected ducks.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has reported that all three cases belong to one extended family in Gharbiyah province, 80 kilometres northwest of the capital city, Cairo.
Clinical specimens from the three cases were tested positive for avian influenza A(H5N1) virus by Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory. The virus was also detected in specimens from two of the three patients by US Naval Medical Research Unit No 3 (NAMRU-3). The samples will be sent to WHO Collaborating Centre for further testing including virus characterisation.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population is conducting further investigations and has initiated public health measures. The other family members remain healthy and have been placed under close observation.
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