Young Boy Is 24th Egyptian To Become Infected With Bird Flu Virus

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 11 Mar 2007 - 19:00 PDT

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Mohammed Mahmoud Ibrahim, aged 4, is the 24th human to become infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus strain in Egypt since the disease appeared in the country in 2006, according to the country's Ministry of Health today. On the 8th March, Mohammed, from Daqahliya, was admitted to the Manshiyat Al Bakri Children's Hospital, Cairo, with bird flu like symptoms.

According to Health Ministry Officials, the boy was infected by poultry raised by his family.

Of the 24 humans who have become infected so far in Egypt, 13 have died. Egypt lies in the flight path of several types of migratory birds.

Experts fear that the H5N1 bird flu virus strain, the most virulent one, will eventually mutate and become easily human transmissible. This has not happened yet. It is still difficult for a person to catch bird flu from a bird - it is even harder for a human to infect another human.

If the bird flu virus infects a person who is ill with a normal human flu virus, it could have the ideal opportunity to mutate. The bird flu virus could exchange genetic information with the human flu virus and acquire its ability to transmit easily from human-to-human.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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