Bird flu so far claimed 12 lives in Egypt

The virus has been detected in at least 19 of the country's 26 provinces

Source: BBC

Tuesday, 06.02.2007.

12:43

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Bird flu so far claimed 12 lives in Egypt

The latest death brings the number of known infections in Egypt to 20, the largest human cluster beyond Asia. Of the 12 people who have died from the illness in Egypt, 11 have been women. Women and girls are often responsible for looking after poultry in Egypt.

Officials said it was too early to know if the latest victim had been infected with a mutated strain of the virus.

Several weeks ago, the World Health Organization announced that two of those who had died had been infected with a strain of the virus that was showed moderate resistance to the antiviral drug, Tamiflu.

More than 80 people have died of H5N1 bird flu since the disease's resurgence in December 2003 - most of them in South-East Asia. Experts point out that cross-infection to humans is still relatively rare and usually occurs where people have been in close contact with infected birds.

But they say if the H5N1 strain mutates so it can be passed between humans, it could become a global pandemic, killing millions.

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