Those of us who follow the ongoing story of the evolution of "avian influenza" (H5N1) into human pandemic form are paying attention to Egypt, where a local cluster of cases is occurring.

News media have not yet caught up to this story. Here is a quote from one exception:

The recent series of H5N1 avian influenza cases in Egyptian children yet very few in adults has raised concern that some Egyptians may be getting infected without getting sick, according to a Reuters news report published today.

John Jabbour, a World Health Organization (WHO) emerging diseases specialist based in Cairo, said the Egyptian government and the WHO are planning a study to find out if subclinical or asymptomatic cases have been occurring, according to the story.

Jabbour said the occurrence of asymptomatic cases would be worrisome because it could give the undetected virus more time to mutate in human hosts, Reuters reported.

"If there is any subclinical case in Egypt, the aim is to treat immediately to stop the reproduction of the virus," he told Reuters. "Because whether [through] mutation or reassortment, this will lead to the pandemic strain."

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/...

Loren