Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Microbiology

Avian influenza virus H5N1 causes mass loss in poultry production in Egypt since 2006. The first confirmed human case in Egypt was detected in March 2006 in Qaliyoubia governorate for 30 years old woman. Avian influenza virus H5N1 raises serious public health concern because of its potential to spread to humans and causes a global pandemic. Clade 2.2 of H5N1 avian influenza viruses are enzootic in Egyptian poultry and are responsible for the majority of confirmed human cases since 2009, which rise concern for Egypt in threat of zoonotic disease of influenza, especially with shortness in real number of human cases, and subclinical cases. This study was performed to assess the risk factor, and to identify the prevalence of influenza virus among Egyptian farmers. Seven hundred and fifty poultry-exposed subjects were enrolled in 5 rural governorates (Sharkiya, Gharbiya, Fayoum, Qalyubiya, and Kafr Elsheikh) and 250 unexposed control subjects in Cairo. Among the exposed individuals, the seroprevalence of anti - H5N1 antibodies at baseline was 2.1%, while for the unexposed individuals, the prevalence was 0%. Results indicated that the numbers of humans infected with avian influenza viruses were much higher than those reported officially as confirmed cases. Also, when influenza viruses are enzootic in the poultry in a specific area, this led to human exposure and infection with avian influenza virus

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