CAIRO, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - An 18-month-old boy has been diagnosed with bird flu in Egypt, marking the country's 81st confirmed human avian influenza case, a spokesman for the country's health ministry said on Wednesday.
The boy from the northern Egyptian province of Kafr El-Sheikh contracted the H5N1 virus after coming into contact with infected poultry. He was hospitalized in a stable condition.
At least 27 people have died of avian influenza in Egypt since the deadly virus was first detected in the country in 2006.
According to World Health Organization data, at least 262 people have died worldwide since bird flu was first discovered in 2003.