april 07 Health Alerts

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on April 17 the first approval in the United States of a vaccine for humans against the H5N1 influenza virus.

The vaccine could be used in the event the current H5N1 avian virus were to develop the capability to efficiently spread from human to human, resulting in the rapid spread of the disease across the globe. Should such an influenza pandemic emerge, the vaccine may provide early limited protection in the months before a vaccine tailored to the pandemic strain of the virus could be developed and produced.

H5N1 influenza vaccine immunization consists of two intramuscular injections, given approximately one month apart. The manufacturer, sanofi pasteur Inc., will not sell the vaccine commercially. Instead, the vaccine has been purchased by the federal government for inclusion within the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile for distribution by public health officials if needed.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced the death on 10 April of the 15-year-old female from Cairo Governorate. She was admitted to hospital on 5 th April.

Of the 34 cases confirmed to date in Egypt , 14 have been fatal.

© World Health Organization 2007. All rights reserved

A short report from Bali refers to 1000 ducks being culled in the Jimbaran district of Bali island after some birds tested positive to the H5N1 virus. All districts of Indonesia must be regarded as affected by avian influenza.

Source: People's Daily online, Xinhua Agency report Fri 6 Apr 2007

A 13-year-old Cambodian girl has died of bird flu in Kampong Cham province, a Ministry [of Health] source told Xinhua on Friday [6 Apr 2007]. This is the 7th victim of the epidemic in the country, said Sok Touch, Secretary of State of Cambodian Ministry of Health. The girl died at noon on 5 Apr 2007, and her blood samples tested positive for the disease, according to a joint statement issued by the Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO). It is not known yet weather the girl contracted the disease from animals or human beings.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) gave a good news–bad news assessment of the global avian flu situation on April 2 after a weekend that brought word of more outbreaks on farms in Bangladesh and Vietnam. The FAO said the disease has infected fewer birds so far this year than it had by this time last year.The presence of H5N1 in wild birds is less than it was last year when there was  a surge in the virus, particularly in Europe.  Also there is more transparency, better surveillance and improved and timelier reporting of outbreaks.

 But, the FAO warns, Indonesia, and Nigeria have not yet been able to control it and  serve as reservoirs that could lead to its introduction to other countries. In Indonesia, only 3 of 33 provinces are free of avian flu, and the disease is endemic in Java, Sumatra, Bali, and South Sulawesi. Lack of compensation for farmers has been an obstacle to avian flu control in Egypt, and Nigeria has not been able to effectively control movement of poultry from outbreak areas.

Over 500 birds (unspecified) have been culled after infection was found in birds in a private “rest house” in a village near the Persian gulf in mid-March. The source is said in the report from the Director General, Animal and Plant Quarantine Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to be 'wild birds or fishers.'

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced three new human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The cases have been confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3).

The first case, a 4-year-old boy from Qena Governorate, is the brother of the 6-year-old girl whose infection was reported on 28 March. He developed symptoms on 26 March and was admitted to hospital on 29 March. The second case, a 7-year-old boy from Sohag Governorate, developed symptoms on 26 March and was hospitalised on 29 March. The third case is a 4-year-old girl from Qalubiea Governorate. She developed symptoms on 29 March and was admitted to hospital the following day.

All three children are receiving treatment and remain in a stable condition. Investigations into the sources of exposure indicate a history of contact with dead birds in each case. Contacts of the children are under surveillance and all remain healthy.

Of the 32 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

© World Health Organization 2007. All rights reserved