CAIRO: The 18th Egyptian to be afflicted of H5N1 avian flu died Sunday, bringing the count to eight deaths in Egypt since the virus was first detected in February.
Two of Intisar Farid’s relatives, a man, 26, and his sister, 15, occupying the same house had also contracted the disease after slaughtering a flock of ducks which had fallen ill.
The relatives are from a village in Gharbiya province, about 80 km north of Cairo, and are currently being treated with Tamiflu in a Cairo hospital.
According to WHO regional advisor for communicable diseases Hassan el-Bushra, the bird flu fatalities are continuing to be reported because people are not abiding by the guidelines. He told The Daily Star Egypt that it was more likely the slaughtering of the ducks which afflicted the three rather than their illness.
He says guidelines state clearly that nobody should slaughter afflicted birds but rather should report the cases to the Ministry of Health. He also added that if people followed such instructions, “it would save a lot of lives.
El-Bushra also rejected any possibility suggestions the deceased were unaware of the government’s guidelines and steps.
“Everyone knows what’s going on . the [Ministry of Health] has been doing a wonderful job, referring to a wide campaign of informative posters, radio and TV announcements.
Many experts have warned of more cases during winter season but El-Bushra says it depends on the “cooperation of the citizens. Often he says people do not even report contact to sick birds.
The H5N1 bird flu strain has killed more than 150 people in at least 45 countries.
