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Bird flu kills teenager in Egypt

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-16 22:43

CAIRO, Egypt -- An Egyptian Health Ministry official says a 16-year-old girl has died of bird flu.

Related readings:  Bird flu confirmed in eastern India  HK bird flu outbreak confirmed to be H5N1  Indonesia reports two human bird flu cases  Bird flu fears prompt HK import halt

The girl was infected with the H5N1 strain that world health authorities are tracking out of fear it could cause a pandemic. So far, though, the disease has not mutated into a form that can be spread easily between humans.

Health Ministry Spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahine said Tuesday that the teenager contracted the virus from domestic fowl, not another person. Sameha Salem, from the southern city of Assuit, died Monday despite treatment with the flu drug Tamiflu.

Egypt has had the highest number of human cases after Indonesia and Vietnam. Including the teenager, 23 people have died in Egypt, out of a total of 51 human cases since March 2006.