Avian influenza – situation in Egypt – update

21 April 2009 — The Ministry of Health of Egypt has reported two new confirmed human cases of avian influenza.

The first case is a 25-year old pregnant female from El Marg District, Cairo Governorate. Her symptoms began on 6 April and she was hospitalized at Ain Shams University hospital on 11 April where she was started on oseltamivir on 16 April. She is in a critical condition. Investigations into the source of her infection indicated close contact with sick poultry prior to becoming ill.

The second case is 18-month old female from Kellin District, Kafr Elsheikh Governorate. Her symptoms began on 15 April and she was hospitalized at Kafr Elsheikh Fever Hospital on 18 April where she was started on oseltamivir on the same day of hospitalization. Her condition is stable. Investigations into the source of infection indicated close contact with dead and sick poultry prior to becoming ill.

For both cases, infection with H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3).

Of the 66 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 have been fatal.

 

Source

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Viruses – On Screen !

 

Peace be Upon You All … and welcome to the new post of  – The Weekly Virology Magazine

 

This week we are posting some Interesting Videos about VIRUSES … I HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM

#1 – HIV SPREADING

By inserting green flourescent protein into the gag gene of HIV, researchers have been able to observe the way HIV-infected T-cells interact with uninfected ones. When an infected cell comes into contact with another host cell, a bridge is created between them, called a virological synapse.

 

 

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Avian Influenza – Situation in Egypt — Update

 

8 April 2009 — The Ministry of Health of Egypt has reported 3 new confirmed human cases of avian influenza.

 

The first case is a 2 year-old boy from Kom Hamada District, El Behira Governorate. He developed symptoms on 27 March and was admitted to Naaora Fever Hospital on the 30 March where he was started on oseltamivir the same day (30 March). He remains in a stable condition.

 

The second case is also a 2 year-old boy from the same district and was detected through the investigation around the above-mentioned case. He developed symptoms on 31 March and was admitted to Damanhor Fever Hospital on 1 April where he was started on oseltamivir the same day (1 April ). He remains in a stable condition.

 

Both boys had contact with sick/dead poultry prior to the illness onset. Close contacts of both boys have been identified and none has shown symptoms of the infection.

 

The third case is a 6 year-old boy from Shubra El Khema District, Qaliobia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 22 March and was admitted to Ain Shams University Hospital on the 28 March where he was started on oseltamivir on 3 April. He was exposed to sick/dead poultry prior to the illness onset. He is in a critical condition.

 

For all of the three cases reported above, infection with H5N1 avian influenza virus was tested positive by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3).

 

Of the 63 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 have been fatal.

Source: WHO WEBSITE

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Lassa Fever

 

Peace be Upon You All … and welcome to the new post of  ViroMag – The Weekly Virology Magazine

 

This week’s post is about Lassa Fever 

 

What is Lassa fever?

 

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in West Africa. The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria, West Africa. The cause of the illness was found to be Lassa virus, named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases originated.

 

 

 

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