Egyptian recovers from suspected bird flu

CAIRO, Mar 19 (Reuters) An Egyptian man has apparently recovered from a suspected case of bird flu, Egypt's health ministry today said a day after announcing the virus had killed a woman in the same part of the country.

''Health and Population Minister Hatem el-Gabali announced the appearance of a second suspected human case of bird flu in Qaloubiyah,'' Egypt's MENA news agency reported in reference to the province about 40 kms (25 miles) north of Cairo.

An initial test had shown he was infected with the virus but a second test was being carried out, MENA said.

The health ministry said yesterday the virus had killed a 30-year-old woman from the same area. The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in a blood sample taken from the woman.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain was first found in birds in Egypt last month. So far, 18 of Egypt's 26 governorates have reported cases in birds.

MENA reported the 28-year-old man had been treated with Tamiflu and appeared to have recovered. The man, who had admitted himself to hospital, was expected to be discharged within two days, MENA added.

Experts say Tamiflu is one of the most effective ways of treating humans infected with bird flu, which has spread across Europe, Africa and parts of Asia and killed at least 98 people worldwide since 2003.

Although hard to catch, people can contract bird flu after coming into contact with infected birds. Scientists fear the virus could mutate into a form that could pass easily between humans, triggering a pandemic in which millions could die.

Egyptian farmers say the poultry market -- worth about 17 billion Egyptian pounds and supporting up to 3 million people -- has been devastated.

REUTERS DKS PM1758