Egypt finds 5th suspected human bird flu case
The Star, 27 Mar 2006

CAIRO (Reuters) - A fifth person in Egypt has caught what appears to be bird flu but her condition is good, Egypt's health minister said on Sunday. 

Hatem el-Gabali said samples taken from the 18-year-old girl were being tested for bird flu, which has already killed one Egyptian, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported. 

The  girl,  from   the   village   of   Miniet

Quellin north west of Cairo, had been treated with Tamiflu -- the drug used to fight bird flu in humans. She began to feel unwell four days ago and checked into hospital on Saturday, he said.  She had handled dead birds, he said. 

Two other Egyptians suspected of catching bird flu left hospital on Sunday. Another is still being treated in hospital. 

The disease is difficult for humans to catch but can be caught through contact with infected birds. Scientists fear bird flu could mutate into a form that can pass easily between humans.