Egyptian child recovers from bird flu - agency

CAIRO, Feb 24 (Reuters) A five-year-old Egyptian boy who tested positive for bird flu has recovered, the official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported today.

Mohamed Ahmed Suleiman recovered after treatment with frontline antiviral Tamiflu and was allowed to go home, MENA quoted Yusri Ragab, director of the Cairo hospital where the child was treated as saying.

Suleiman was the 22nd case to test positive for the H5N1 virus in Egypt, which has the largest bird flu cluster outside Asia. Of the 22 cases, 13 have died.

Most people infected in Egypt had been in contact with live birds kept at home. Bird flu initially caused panic across the country and did extensive damage to the poultry industry, although the sector has largely recovered.

World Health Organisation officials have said a delay in reporting symptoms in Egypt, where many people keep poultry at home, made the virus harder to fight.

REUTERS SAM RK2131