Please note there is new information almost daily. For the most current and accurate information, visit www.pandemicflu.gov, and look under the heading "Monitoring Outbreaks". The USGS site is very helpful in tracking current wildlife outbreaks and news stories. The WHO site gives the most current and accurate lab confirmed human case and human death totals.

Current human death rate from the H5N1 strain is 56.2% (194 cases, 109 deaths). Egypt is the newest nation to report human cases, with 4 laboratory confirmed cases and 2 resulting deaths announced April 3, 2006. The attached chart from the WHO shows that the nations of Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and Indonesia have had new confirmed cases as well.

Bird surveillance indicates that flocks of swans in Poland and in the Czech Republic have been culled after finding the H5N1 virus in several flocks. The first wild birds to test positive in the UK were discovered in Scotland in early April. Experts fear it won't be long until the strain is found in wild birds in the Western Hemisphere.

Mammals have tested positive for H5N1--domestic cats in Austria and Germany, wild cats in Asia, a stone marten in Germany, and a dog in Azerbaijan. 3 of the 4 domestic cats survived. Research by Dutch scientists highlighted the possibility that cats could play a role in allowing the virus to change in such a way that the feared human pandemic could become a reality. The researchers indicate there is a need for feline surveillance to be included amongst the bird and human surveillance already occurring.

Nations With Confirmed Cases H5N1 Avian Influenza (April 14):

WHO Laboratory Confirmed H5N1 Human Cases As of 4/12/06

Total number of cases includes number of deaths.
WHO reports only laboratory-confirmed cases.

Read more What's New with the Bird Flu? articles . . .