Egypt: H5N1 Update - February 2010

Reference ID 10CAIRO338
Created 2010-02-21 14:02
Released 2011-01-28
Classification UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Origin Embassy Cairo



VZCZCXRO8929
RR RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTRO
DE RUEHEG #0338 0521415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211411Z FEB 10 ZFF6
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0343
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA

UNCLAS CAIRO 000338

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ELA
DEPT FOR OES/IHB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU PGOV EAGR EAID EG
SUBJECT: Egypt: H5N1 Update - February 2010

¶1. (SBU) Key Points

--Egypt's Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed 12 human cases of
H5N1 (avian influenza) in 2010, with three fatalities.

--In the wake of efforts to combat H1N1 (swine flu), MoH will
increase its public awareness H5N1 influenza programs for health
care providers to ensure they remain vigilant in detecting avian
influenza.

--MoH is exploring the possibility of testing deceased H1N1 (swine
flu) cases for the H5N1 virus.

¶2. (SBU) Ministry of Health (MoH) Executive Director for Disease
Surveillance Dr. Samir Refaey told ESTH officer on February 10 that
Egypt has confirmed 10 H5N1 human cases this year - four in January
and six so far in for February (two more cases were announced on
February 20, bringing the current total to 12 cases). The most
recent avian influenza fatality occurred on February 10th, the
third for 2010. Noting the recent spate of H5N1 cases, he pointed
out that during the same time frame in 2009 (January and February),
Egypt reported 17 avian influenza cases and that the MoH expected
the increase for the winter season. Egypt is the only country to
have confirmed human H5N1 cases in 2010.

¶3. (SBU) Refaey expressed concern with the increasing amount of
time taking avian influenza patients to seek treatment in hospitals
after the onset of virus-like symptoms (the majority of this year's
cases have taken more than four days from the beginning of symptoms
to hospitalization). He speculated that following the intense
focus on H1N1 throughout most of 2009, many private care facilities
- where H5N1 patients initially visit - were not screening for
avian influenza. MoH also suspects that patients have not been
forthcoming in discussing their medical history, especially about
their exposure to poultry - an automatic indicator to check for the
avian influenza virus. In response to ESTH officer's inquiry about
the growing number of adults contracting the virus this year
(compared to 2009, when children 0-10 years old were the main
victims), Refaey stated the MoH was aware of this development but
did not have any definitive answer at this point. Refaey admitted
that for many health care providers, H1N1 may have supplanted H5N1
as the most worrisome influenza strain circulating across the
country.

¶4. (SBU) To respond to the growing number of H5N1 cases, MoH plans
to revitalize its public awareness programs for health care
providers - doctors, nurses, technicians - to ensure they quickly
identify and treat avian influenza cases. Refaey asserted that
surveillance and detection programs may have grown "fatigued" from
battling H1N1 but MoH would redistribute information and lead
training sessions to re-emphasize H5N1's status as a national
priority. He also highlighted a recently announced MoH plan to
test all severe cases of pneumonia in rural areas - where many H5N1
cases emerge - for both H1N1 and H5N1. Pneumonia is a respiratory
condition that normally afflicts H5N1 patients. Increased testing
for pneumonia may lead to improved detection for avian influenza
cases.

¶5. (SBU) Egypt has confirmed approximately 270 H1N1 deaths since
the virus first appeared last year in 2009. Refaey stated that MoH
plans to begin testing all of the victims for H5N1 but did not
provide details as to when this might begin. The potential
intermingling of H5N1 and H1N1 is one of MoH's greatest health
concerns.



SCOBEY







Source: Wikileaks