Egypt's Health Minister denies H5N1 & "Swine Flu" coinfection

[Rwilmer]

"Health" denies mutation of avian flu in pigs, with
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 - 19:55


Minister of Health Dr.. Gabali
Mona Zia


Denied the Ministry of Health through the Council of Ministers report daily to the situation of swine flu, the rumors about a mutation of the swine flu virus to one of the cases infected with avian influenza, upon his arrival at the port of Safaga from Umrah.

The ministry said that this pilgrim infected with swine flu in addition to the common flu and not bird flu, and his health is good and stable, and will leave the hospital within two days after the treatment, emphasizing the lack of any situation that the mutation of avian influenza in Egypt and that there is no marriage between him and the bird flu virus .

http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=

[Treyfish]

Good find,RWilmer.

[alert]

That's still not good. That seems to indicate a co-infection with seasonal and pandemic flu, even if bird flu is not involved.

[prepdeb]

Can I say "crap" here?

If this continues, would it make any vaccine now being produced useless?

[Rwilmer]

H5N1/H1N1 VIRUS CO-INFECTION - EGYPT: ex SAUDI ARABIA, SUSPECTED,
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
************************************************** ***************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Sun 30 Aug 2009
Source: AlMasry AlYoum [in Arabic trans. Hussain Ayoub, paraphrased
and edited]



A sample taken from a 28 year-old man who arrived at the port of
Safaga from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah [pilgrimage] has
tested positive for [both] bird and swine flu [that is, presumably avian
influenza (H5N1) virus and pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infections]. He
was immediately detained and held in isolation in a hospital in
Hurghada.
Mohammad Rifai, director-general of preventative medicine, stated that
this case is the 3rd in 2 days. [The other 2 are a 35-year-old Italian
tourist also retained at the hospital in Hurghada and] another
pilgrim, 30 years old, who has been detained in Safaga Central
Hospital. Rifai pointed out that a sample from a 38-year-old citizen
has tested negative.

Another 2 cases have been detained in Mansoura fever hospital on
suspicion of similar illness.

5 cases, including 4 children, suspected of having contracted
"bird flu" infection [presumably avian influenza (H5N1) virus
infection] have been detained in Mansoura Chest hospital.

[Byline: Mohamed Soliman]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[Does the director-general of preventative medicine mean this case is
the 3rd in 2 days of *dual* infection? Unless both *viruses* were
detected in the patient, not simply positive antibody results, this
would be inconclusive, since Egypt has reported cases of H5N1
throughout 2009, and this person may have had a mild infection before
leaving for Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has reported 285 cases (no
deaths) of H1N1 in 2009 -- see last case count of 22 July in ProMED
ref. below -- but it is also possible that the Egyptian
pilgrim(s) could have caught H1N1 from a pilgrim from another
H1N1-infected country.- Mod.JW]

[If this report is confirmed it raises the prospect of the potential
evolution by genome subunit reassortment of a highly transmissible
influenza virus like the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with the enhanced
virulence of the avian (H5N1) virus. Further information is awaited
confirmatory or not, by laboratory analysis, of the occurrence of dual
infection. - Mod.CP]

[Port Safaga, in the Red Sea Governorate (El Bahr El Ahmar), can be
located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Egypt at
. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human (111): Egypt, 84th & 85th cases, WHO 20090901.3079
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (14): case count 20090722.2599
2008
----
Avian influenza (24): Saudi Arabia, China (Tibet), Bangladesh 20080129.0373
........................................mpp/arn/cp/mj/jw
*################################################# #########*
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http://www.promedmail.com/pls/otn/f?..._ID:1000,79041

[Treyfish]

Good WORK.

[Rwilmer]

Original Story

Injury pilgrims bird flu in pigs, and the Red Sea

Mr. Mohamed Soliman
The results of analysis of the sample was taken from "Ahmad Rifai Aelchensteoi" (28 years) from the pool seven Éjfél, who arrived to Safaga port yesterday, from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah that bird flu, and pigs, and the sample is positive, and was detained Department isolation at the hospital hotel in Hurghada.

Dr. "Mohammad Rifai," Director General of preventive medicine to maintain, that this case is the third in two days, where tests confirmed positive samples and the existence of cases of Italian tourists, "Ilisu Monaco" (35 years), and was detained Hospital, Hurghada, also confirmed to the pilgrim, "Muhammad Lutfi age "(30 years), and was detained Safaga Central Hospital, Rifai pointed out that the results of the sample was taken from the citizen" Shukri Abdul Majid "(38 years) were negative.

The official said the detention of General Hospital of Minya after the girl confirmed to be infected pigs of bird, also detained in Mansoura Fever Hospital on Sunday, two on suspicion of injuries with the same disease, and doctors confirmed that the two cases were detained in hospital isolation room and took their samples to be sent to the Ministry of Health

On the other hand was detained in Mansoura Chest Hospital, five cases suspected of having the "bird flu", including four children.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.almasryonline.com%2Fportal%2Fpa ge%2Fportal%2FMasryPortal%2FARTICLE_AR%3FitId%3DUG 115499%26pId%3DUG14%26pType%3D1&sl=auto&tl=en&history_state0=

[alert]

Doesn't the first post in this thread indicate that the case was negative for H5N1?

[Rwilmer]

Yes it is. Someone needs to send that new story to promed.

[Treyfish]

Recent mix warning stories from egypthttp://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=122408
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=121716

[alert]

I think ProMed just got hosed. "Bird flu in pigs" is H1N1. There's no H5N1 involved. Here is the original article, before the editing by ProMed. I think the editor misunderstood the term "bird flu in pigs" to be a dual infection. The speculation at the end of the ProMed post would seem to support that conclusion ("third dual infection"?)

http://www.translate.google.com/tran...istory_state0=

Injury pilgrims bird flu in pigs, and the Red Sea

محمد السيد سليمان Mr. Mohamed Soliman
أكدت نتائج التحاليل للعينة التي تم أخذها من "أحمد الشنشتاوي الرفاعي" (28 عاما) من بركة السبع منوفية، والذي وصل إلى ميناء سفاجا أمس الأول ، قادما من السعودية بعد أدائه مناسك العمرة أنه مصابا بأنفلونزا الطيور والخنازير، وان العينة إيجابية، وتم حجزه بقسم العزل بالمستشفى الفندقي بالغردقة . The results of analysis of the sample was taken from "Ahmad Rifai Aelchensteoi" (28 years) from the pool seven Éjfél, who arrived to Safaga port yesterday, from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah that bird flu, and pigs, and the sample is positive, and was detained Department isolation at the hospital hotel in Hurghada.

وأكد الدكتور "محمد رفاعي" مدير عام الطب الوقائي بالمحافظة، أن هذه الحالة هي الحالة الثالثة خلال يومين حيث أكدت التحاليل إيجابية العينات وثبوت الإصابة للسائح الايطالي "أليسو موناكو" (35 عاما)، وتم حجزه بمستشفى الغردقة، كما تأكد إصابة المعتمر "محمد لطفي عمر" (30 عاما)، وتم حجزه بمستشفى سفاجا المركزي، وأشار رفاعي إلى أن نتائج العينة التي تم أخذها من المواطن "شكري عبد المجيد" (38 عاما) جاءت سلبية . Dr. "Mohammad Rifai," Director General of preventive medicine to maintain, that this case is the third in two days, where tests confirmed positive samples and the existence of cases of Italian tourists, "Ilisu Monaco" (35 years), and was detained Hospital, Hurghada, also confirmed to the pilgrim, "Muhammad Lutfi age "(30 years), and was detained Safaga Central Hospital, Rifai pointed out that the results of the sample was taken from the citizen" Shukri Abdul Majid "(38 years) were negative.

فيما أعلن مسئول بمستشفى المنيا العام احتجاز فتاه بعد التأكد من إصابتها بأنفلوانزا الخنازير، كما احتجزت مستشفى الحميات بالمنصورة اليوم الأحد حالتين للاشتباه في إصابتهما بنفس المرض، وأكد الأطباء أن الحالتين تم احتجازهما بغرفة العزل بالمستشفى واخذ عينات منهما لإرسالها لمعامل وزارة الصحة The official said the detention of General Hospital of Minya after the girl confirmed to be infected pigs of bird, also detained in Mansoura Fever Hospital on Sunday, two on suspicion of injuries with the same disease, and doctors confirmed that the two cases were detained in hospital isolation room and took their samples to be sent to the Ministry of Health



وعلى صعيد آخر احتجزت مستشفى الصدر بالمنصورة خمس حالات للإشتباه في إصابتهم بـ" أنفلونزا الطيور" بينهم أربع أطفال. On the other hand was detained in Mansoura Chest Hospital, five cases suspected of having the "bird flu", including four children.

[Rwilmer]

Originally Posted by alert

I think ProMed just got hosed. "Bird flu in pigs" is H1N1. There's no H5N1 involved. Here is the original article, before the editing by ProMed. I think the editor misunderstood hte term "bird flu in pigs" to be a dual infection. The speculation at the end of the ProMed post would seem to support that conclusion ("third dual infection"?)

http://www.translate.google.com/tran...istory_state0=

Injury pilgrims bird flu in pigs, and the Red Sea

محمد السيد سليمان Mr. Mohamed Soliman
أكدت نتائج التحاليل للعينة التي تم أخذها من "أحمد الشنشتاوي الرفاعي" (28 عاما) من بركة السبع منوفية، والذي وصل إلى ميناء سفاجا أمس الأول ، قادما من السعودية بعد أدائه مناسك العمرة أنه مصابا بأنفلونزا الطيور والخنازير، وان العينة إيجابية، وتم حجزه بقسم العزل بالمستشفى الفندقي بالغردقة . The results of analysis of the sample was taken from "Ahmad Rifai Aelchensteoi" (28 years) from the pool seven Éjfél, who arrived to Safaga port yesterday, from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah that bird flu, and pigs, and the sample is positive, and was detained Department isolation at the hospital hotel in Hurghada.

وأكد الدكتور "محمد رفاعي" مدير عام الطب الوقائي بالمحافظة، أن هذه الحالة هي الحالة الثالثة خلال يومين حيث أكدت التحاليل إيجابية العينات وثبوت الإصابة للسائح الايطالي "أليسو موناكو" (35 عاما)، وتم حجزه بمستشفى الغردقة، كما تأكد إصابة المعتمر "محمد لطفي عمر" (30 عاما)، وتم حجزه بمستشفى سفاجا المركزي، وأشار رفاعي إلى أن نتائج العينة التي تم أخذها من المواطن "شكري عبد المجيد" (38 عاما) جاءت سلبية . Dr. "Mohammad Rifai," Director General of preventive medicine to maintain, that this case is the third in two days, where tests confirmed positive samples and the existence of cases of Italian tourists, "Ilisu Monaco" (35 years), and was detained Hospital, Hurghada, also confirmed to the pilgrim, "Muhammad Lutfi age "(30 years), and was detained Safaga Central Hospital, Rifai pointed out that the results of the sample was taken from the citizen" Shukri Abdul Majid "(38 years) were negative.

فيما أعلن مسئول بمستشفى المنيا العام احتجاز فتاه بعد التأكد من إصابتها بأنفلوانزا الخنازير، كما احتجزت مستشفى الحميات بالمنصورة اليوم الأحد حالتين للاشتباه في إصابتهما بنفس المرض، وأكد الأطباء أن الحالتين تم احتجازهما بغرفة العزل بالمستشفى واخذ عينات منهما لإرسالها لمعامل وزارة الصحة The official said the detention of General Hospital of Minya after the girl confirmed to be infected pigs of bird, also detained in Mansoura Fever Hospital on Sunday, two on suspicion of injuries with the same disease, and doctors confirmed that the two cases were detained in hospital isolation room and took their samples to be sent to the Ministry of Health



وعلى صعيد آخر احتجزت مستشفى الصدر بالمنصورة خمس حالات للإشتباه في إصابتهم بـ" أنفلونزا الطيور" بينهم أربع أطفال. On the other hand was detained in Mansoura Chest Hospital, five cases suspected of having the "bird flu", including four children.

Oh I didn't see that.

[alert]

I haven't been newshounding Egypt since that Libyan plague scare, but I remember that part - "bird flu in pigs" is H1N1. It's how that source (or the translator) works. The ProMed article identifies itself as paraphrased and edited (although to those of us who follow ProMed in detail, this one should have been tagged as "heavily edited").

[Treyfish]

I think you are right, Alert , they use the Bird flu in pigs statement all the time. I think it is a screwup,hopefully

[Rwilmer]

Deleted

[alert]

(Referring to above, deleted post)

Read it carefully. They are not denying a co-infection. They are denying a mutation of H1N1. I don't think that article involves H5 either.

[Commonground]

I have to agree, its the editing from ProMed. I've never seen an article edited like that from ProMed. A commentary at the bottom, but not throughout the article.

The last sentence deals with Avian Flu.

[alert]

Originally Posted by Commonground

I have to agree, its the editing from ProMed. I've never seen an article edited like that from ProMed. A commentary at the bottom, but not throughout the article.

The last sentence deals with Avian Flu.

I've seen a few. But they usually get tagged as "heavily edited" or "extensively edited". The most recent was the one on anthrax in India where they had to heavily edit out references to the government reports killing people, instead of the disease.

The link for "extensively edited" is here:

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?...AIL_ID:X,78489

I am a little disappointed that they posted this one, though.

[Rwilmer]

They specifically denied bird flu here.

"The ministry said that this pilgrim infected with swine flu in addition to the common flu and not bird flu, and his health is good and stable."

If it was a editing error then why did they specifically deny it in the first article of this thread?

[Rwilmer]

Could someone please send the first article of this thread to promed.

[Niko]

Originally Posted by Rwilmer

They specifically denied bird flu here.

"The ministry said that this pilgrim infected with swine flu in addition to the common flu and not bird flu, and his health is good and stable."

If it was a editing error then why did they specifically deny it in the first article of this thread?

The Promed post was from Aug 30th. The article is from Sept 1st. I suspect that the article is in response to the Promed post.

[alert]

Originally Posted by Niko

The Promed post was from Aug 30th. The article is from Sept 1st. I suspect that the article is in response to the Promed post.

No. The ProMed post is from Today (9/1). The original article was 8/30.

[Rwilmer]

Originally Posted by Rwilmer

"Health" denies mutation of avian flu in pigs, with
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 - 19:55


Minister of Health Dr.. Gabali
Mona Zia


Denied the Ministry of Health through the Council of Ministers report daily to the situation of swine flu, the rumors about a mutation of the swine flu virus to one of the cases infected with avian influenza, upon his arrival at the port of Safaga from Umrah.

The ministry said that this pilgrim infected with swine flu in addition to the common flu and not bird flu, and his health is good and stable, and will leave the hospital within two days after the treatment, emphasizing the lack of any situation that the mutation of avian influenza in Egypt and that there is no marriage between him and the bird flu virus .

http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=

Could someone please send this article to promed.

[alert]

Originally Posted by Rwilmer

Could someone please send this article to promed.

And whlie you're at it, can someone explain this to Flu Wiki.

And also to Crof at the H5N1 blog. He seems to have picked up the ProMed story, but not this thread.

[NawtyBits]

I've seen a lot of stories that translate out to "bird flu in pigs"....can't say I've seen one yet ('ceptin' todays article) that puts it "that bird flu, and pigs"....

Probably a translation glitch, but certainly a new one.....

[Niko]

Originally Posted by Niko

The Promed post was from Aug 30th. The article is from Sept 1st. I suspect that the article is in response to the Promed post.

Originally Posted by alert

No. The ProMed post is from Today (9/1). The original article was 8/30.

I am sorry for the confusion. I meant the article in post #1 of this thread is dated Sept 1st. The article posted by Promed is dated August 30th.

[Rwilmer]

Egypt: Italian suspected of swine flu and bird flu


Rome, 2 Sept. (AKI) - A 35 year-old Italian tourist is one of three people believed to have been infected with A(H1N1) virus, or swine flu, as well as the H5N1 virus, known as avian flu. The patients are recovering in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada, said Mohammed Rifai, director general of preventive medicine.

Rifai also spoke of a 28-year-old man who tested positive for both viruses, after arriving at the port of Safaga after a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

"We are waiting the results of the tests that have already been carried out in some patients suspected of having been infected by the H5N1 and the A(H1N1)," said World Health Organisation spokesman Gregory Hartl in an interview with Adnkronos Salute.

"However, at the moment there are no confirmed cases."

Hartl, however, did not want to specify the nationality of the suspected cases.

Last week in Chile, the A(H1N1) virus was found in turkeys, raising concern that poultry farms elsewhere in the world may also become infected with the pandemic swine flu virus.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization interim chief veterinary officer, Juan Lubroth, said that it could theoretically become more dangerous if the A(H1N1) combines with H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, which is far more deadly but harder to pass along among humans.

The emergence of new influenza virus strains capable of affecting humans and domestic animals remains a broader, more general concern that is being closely monitored by FAO, the World Organization for Animal Health and the World Health Organization.

In addition, the first mass vaccinations against swine flu will be available from November in Italy, the Italian government has announced.

The vaccine is expected to be available for those most at risk, an estimated 24 million Italians or 40 percent of the population.

According to Italian media reports, the government is planning to release eight million doses from mid-November until mid-December.

Another 16 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be available from 31 January 2010.

The ministry of health, together with medical officials and regional representatives, will work together with doctors to administer the vaccine free of charge.

In the first phase, the vaccine will be offered to health workers and to those most at risk, including residents of nursing homes and pregnant women as well as family doctors.

Another round of vaccines will be made available to those aged between two and 65 years of age, suffering from respiratory illnesses by the end of the year.

Others aged between two and 27 years will be eligible for another round of vaccines at the end of January.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English...3.0.3724836800

[ironorehopper]

(Update by IOH)

According a news report by the ANSA italian press agency, a 22 years old Italian national hospitalized at Hurgada hospital, Egypt, is currently in stable conditions and treated with antiviral drug oseltamivir, after contracting H1N1 2009 influenza virus.

The patient was suspected to be infected with avian influenza virus A/H5N1 as well, but a spokesman of the hospital - reached by ANSA - denied this report.

Essam Qaoud has confirmed that the patient is stable and has been hospitalized since August 27.

(Source: ANSA, http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnp...102377664.html )

[Rwilmer]

Excerpt from another article:

ITALIAN ONLY IN EGYPT HIT BY H1N1
The Egyptian authorities have denied that there is an Italian tourist in Hurghada hit by a double infection by the virus H1N1 and H5N1. The Italian, 22 years, as subsequently stated, has entered only the influenza A virus, said the doctor, and her condition is stable after being treated with Tamiflu Young said the doctor, was admitted August 27 last year, suffering because of high fever over 38 degrees and leave the hospital when tests carried out for 5 days will give negative results for its part, the hospital director, Hossameddin Hassan Abdou, also denied that a second person, Egyptian who was returning to Egypt after a pilgrimage to Mecca has been hospitalized for a double infection. The same denial from the Italian embassy in Cairo said that, after taking CONTACT with the Italian Consulate in Hurghada, the Italian tourist was hit only by influenza A.

http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=

[Pathfinder]

In case of dual infections H1N1 and H5N1, how would the tests perform? Would they both be positive? Or only positive for one of them?