3-year-old girl becomes Egypt's 27th case with deadly bird flu strain

A three-year-old girl has contracted the potentially deadly strain of bird flu, bringing the total number of Egyptians to be diagnosed with the disease to 27 since it appeared in the country last year.

Health ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shahine said the girl _ identified as Hajer Mohammed Awadallah from the southern city of Aswan _ was admitted to a local hospital with a fever and cold symptoms.

She tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu strain on Sunday, he added.

"She is receiving medical treatment at Aswan children hospital," Shahine said, adding that her condition was table and that she was being treated with Tamiflu, the drug of choice for bird flu in humans.

Shahine added that the little girl contradicted the virus from domestic birds her family raises at home.

Thirteen people have died out of 27 Egyptians who contracted bird flu since February 2006. Most of those infected have been women or girls, who are usually the ones to take care of household chickens and turkeys.

Since the outbreak of bird flu last year, Egypt has been one of the worst-affected countries outside Asia, where the disease originated. It lies on a main route for migratory birds, which are believed to have brought disease from Asia.

The disease, also known as avian influenza, has killed 169 people worldwide so far.