The World Health Organization (WHO) recently fleshed out the details of two H5N1 avian flu cases, one of them fatal, reported from Egypt in late February. News of the human illnesses were first noted in a pair of notifications to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which had little information about the cases. The WHO shared more complete information in its monthly update on flu at the human-animal interface.
After of week of no updates, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new case of MERS-COV today in a man who had direct contact with camels.
The 54-year-old Saudi man lives in Al Kharj, and is in stable condition after presenting with symptoms of MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). He had direct exposure to camels, which can transmit the disease to humans.
Four southeastern states have now been hit with low-path H7, with Tennessee also noting high-path H7N9.
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said today that the mainland reported 18 more H7N9 avian flu illnesses, 2 of them fatal, from Mar 17 to Mar 23, according to a regular weekly update.
After an unusually large surge of cases in December, China's H7N9 cases peaked in February. Though cases are declining, the country continues to report a steady stream of infections from a number of provinces.
Japan, meanwhile, reports two large H5N6 outbreaks at poultry farms in different prefectures.
Animal health officials in Alabama yesterday reported one more low-pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza outbreak, this time affecting a commercial farm in Cullman County, located in the north central part of the state, not far from where earlier events occurred.
Vietnam today reported another highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu outbreak, as two European countries—Romania and Slovenia—reported several more H5N8 outbreaks in wild birds and poultry, according to the latest updates from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Alabama officials likewise confirm low-path H7N9 at 2 locations in separate counties.
Alabama officials have received results on samples collected from one of the state's recently announced avian flu outbreaks, indicating low-pathogenic H7N9 detected in guinea fowl at the TaCo-Bet Trade Day flea market in Jackson County.
Also, Croatia reports its first high-path H5N5 outbreak in poultry.
