Egyptian woman dies of bird flu
An Egyptian woman died of bird flu yesterday, bringing to eight the number of people in the country who have succumbed to the disease since it was first detected there in February.
Intisar Fareed, 30, died after she and two members of members of an extended family living in a single dwelling in Gharbiya province, to the north of Cairo, tested positive for the deadly strain of avian flu.
Hassan el-Bushra, a regional adviser of the World Health Organisation announced earlier yesterday that three people tested positive for the H5N1 virus, identifying the cases as a sister, 15, a brother, 26, and a 30-year-old cousin.
El-Bushra said Ms Fareed was admitted to hospital on December 17 but did not tell medics until a few days later that she had been in contact with birds.
“Sunday’s three cases brought the number of Egyptians who have contracted avian flu to 18, and the recent death has increased the death toll to eight cases,” said Dr Sayyed el-Abbasi, a spokesman for the Health Ministry.
Bird flu was first detected in Egypt in February and has spread to at least 19 of the country’s 26 provinces. Egypt lies on a migratory route for wild birds.
