Egypt reports 23rd case of bird flu in humans

CAIRO, Feb 28 (Reuters) A four-year-old Egyptian girl has caught bird flu after coming in contact with infected domestic poultry, the 23rd case among humans in the North African country, the state news agency MENA said.

Sara Sayed Burhan from Nabarouh in the Nile Delta province of Dakahlia is in the Chest Hospital in the provincial capital Mansoura with a high temperature from the disease, it said yesterday, quoting Health Ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shahin.

Her relatives are undergoing tests to see whether they too are infected, the spokesman added.

Thirteen people have died of the disease in Egypt since the deadly virus was first detected in February 2006. Nine other people have recovered after treatment.

Egypt has the highest number of human bird flu cases outside of Asia. Most people infected 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.

Reuters PDM VP1042