This infographic provides an overview of the H5N1 situation in Egypt as of 9 April 2015. Click here to view.08 April 2015 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of additional laboratory-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) during the last few weeks. With this additional number, the total number of cases reported during the month of March 2015 now stands at 30 cases, including 4 deaths. This increase in reported human cases has been observed since the beginning of November last year. 

Since its introduction in Egypt in 2006, avian influenza A(H5N1) virus has been circulating in domestic poultry in the country and has been the source of sporadic human infections. Almost all cases of H5N1 infection reported in humans in recent times have been associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments. Though the number of cases reported is higher compared to last year, the increase in the number of cases does not change current risk status of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus that is currently circulating at the animal-human interface in the country.

Since it was first reported in March 2006, a total of 336 cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) infections in humans have been reported, including 114 related deaths (case-fatality rate =34%) 

Table 1. Cumulative number of laboratory-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) reported to WHO, 2006-2015 

Total number of cases includes number of deaths
WHO reports only laboratory-confirmed cases.