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Bird flu confirmed in Egypt trio Egyptian woman dies of bird flu
(about 4 hours later)
Three members of an Egyptian family have tested positive for the virulent H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus. An Egyptian woman has died of bird flu just hours after testing positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus.
A 30-year-old woman was first treated on 17 December, before a brother and sister, aged 26 and 15, fell ill. The 30-year-old was first treated on 17 December, before a brother and sister, aged 26 and 15, also fell ill.
The World Health Organization confirmed the test results on the three, who live with 30 other family members raising poultry in a town north of Cairo.The World Health Organization confirmed the test results on the three, who live with 30 other family members raising poultry in a town north of Cairo.
The positive tests raise to 18 the total number of human cases in Egypt. Seven of those people have died. She is the eighth person to die of bird flu in Egypt. The positive tests raise to 17 the total number of human cases.
The family live together in one house in the town of Zifta in Gharbiya province, about 80km (50 miles) north of Cairo. The two siblings are in hospital in Cairo and have been treated. The rest of the family is under close medical surveillance, a WHO official said.
Family farmFamily farm
The extended family share one house in the town of Zifta in Gharbiya province, about 80km (50 miles) north of Cairo.
A WHO official said the family raised ducks, and the brother and sister had become infected after slaughtering the flock in an effort to stem the spread of the H5N1 virus.A WHO official said the family raised ducks, and the brother and sister had become infected after slaughtering the flock in an effort to stem the spread of the H5N1 virus.
The 30-year-old woman, who also developed symptoms, is recovering well in a Cairo hospital, said Hassan el-Bushra, a WHO regional adviser. Three of the family's ducks had died of the virus, WHO confirmed.
Three of the family's ducks had died of the virus, he added.
Egypt is a major route for migratory birds and is one of the countries worst hit by the virus outside Asia.Egypt is a major route for migratory birds and is one of the countries worst hit by the virus outside Asia.
Government officials had hoped an initial outbreak of H5N1 among poultry in February had been contained and would not further affect the country's food supply.Government officials had hoped an initial outbreak of H5N1 among poultry in February had been contained and would not further affect the country's food supply.
In the Middle East, the disease is also known to be present in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.In the Middle East, the disease is also known to be present in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.