An Egyptian woman died of bird flu on Thursday in Sohag Upper Egypt , bringing the death toll from the avian flu to eight this year out of 15 identified cases, the health ministry said.
The home economics teacher became the 71st Egyptian who died of the deadly H5N1 virus, since the outbreak of the epidemic in the country in 2006. The death rate reached 37.8 percent of the 188 people caught bird flu in Egypt, compared to 55 percent on the international level, mostly in China.
Around two million workers involved in the poultry industry and eight million people of their relatives have been harmed since the emergence of bird flu in Egypt, according to the State Information Service.
The World Health Organization published a report in 2014 on influenza A (H5) activity from 18 February to 23 September 2014. The report mentioned that the infections of the A (H5) reported to the WHO by Egypt included poultry and humans.
Another WHO report published on 2 October 2014 mentioned that 175 people had died due to infection with avian influenza, the A (H7N9) virus.
WHO advised that travelers to countries with known outbreaks of avian influenza should avoid poultry farms, or contact with animals in live bird markets, or entering areas where poultry may be slaughtered, or contact with any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals. Travelers should also wash their hands often with soap and water. Travelers should follow standard food safety and hygiene practices.
