Egypt finds 5th suspected human bird flu case

Cairo, Mar 27: A fifth person in Egypt has caught what appears to be bird flu but her condition is good, Egypt's health minister said.

Hatem el-Gabali said samples taken from the 18-year-old girl were being tested for bird flu, which has already killed one Egyptian, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported last night.

The girl, from the village of Miniet Quellin north west of Cairo, had been treated with Tamiflu -- the drug used to fight bird flu in humans. She began to feel unwell four days ago and checked into hospital on Saturday, he said.

She had handled dead birds, he said.

Two other Egyptians suspected of catching bird flu left hospital yesterday. Another is still being treated in hospital.

The disease is difficult for humans to catch but can be caught through contact with infected birds. Scientists fear bird flu could mutate into a form that can pass easily between humans.

REUTERS