Egypt has confirmed that a 16-year-old girl died of bird flu in the southern Egyptian governorate of Asyut. The death brings the total number of reported bird flu deaths to 23 in the two years since it first emerged in the North African nation, indicated the Middle East news agency (MENA). Samiyah Salem died Monday evening, Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahin was quoted as saying. She allegedly contracted the fatal illness after being exposed to infected poultry in and around her house. This is Egypt’s 51st overall case of people contracting the deadly H5N1 avian influenza after it arrived in Egypt from East Asia. Salem was admitted to a local hospital Saturday after complaining of fever and breathing problems, the ministry stated, adding that the young girl was the first death attributed to bird flu since 11 April this year. Egypt is a high-risk nation for bird flu as it lies on the migratory patterns of many birds due to its proximity to Europe, Asia and Africa.
