September 8, 2006

Egypt confirms fresh cases of bird flu

Egypt uncovered new cases of bird flu in domestic fowl, the health ministry said on Thursday (Sep 7).

Birds tested positive for the lethal H5N1 strain in locations in the southern province of Sohag and the Mediterranean coastal province of Damietta, the ministry said.

Teams were culling the infected birds in both locations, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry earlier announced Egypt's first discovery of infected birds in months, raising concerns the virus would be returning with the start of the migration season.

Six people have died of bird flu in Egypt since the disease broke out in the country in early March, sparking a massive cull of poultry across the country.