Avian Influenza and the Pandemic Threat

Source: WHO 16 December 2008 - The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case is a 16-year-old female from Assuit Governorate, Upper Egypt whose symptoms began on 8 December 2008. She was initially hospitalized at the district hospital on 11 December and then transferred to the Assuit University Hospital on 13 December where she died on 15 December.

Source: WHO 12 December 2008 - The Ministry of Health of Cambodia has announced a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Source: WHO
9 December 2008 - The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced two new confirmed cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. A 9-year-old female from Riau Province developed symptoms on 7 November and was hospitalized on 12 November. She recovered and was discharged from hospital on 27 November. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Investigations into the source of her infection indicate poultry deaths at her home on 2 November.

Source: CIDRAP | Photo: Hartfried Schmid
13 November 2008 – Officials in Thailand said today that H5N1 avian influenza struck poultry in Uthai Thani, the second province to report the virus in less than a week.

Indonesia, Viet Nam and Egypt among major beneficiary countries

Source: FAO | Photo: El Fotopakismo
11 November 2008, Rome - The United States will provide an additional $44.4 million in support of FAO's avian influenza control and prevention campaign, FAO announced today.

(UNITED NATIONS, New York 21 October) The United Nations and the World Bank report that most countries are planning for an influenza pandemic, but officials worry that many plans have not been tested and may well fail once the next influenza pandemic starts. Coming on the heels of a World Bank study suggesting that the economic cost of a pandemic could top a staggering $3 trillion, this continuing lack of preparedness remains a cause for concern.