AN EGYPTIAN WOMAN DIED FROM THE BIRD FLU VIRUS ON MONDAY, AN OFFICIAL FROM THE UNITED NATIONS HEALTH AGENCY SAID, ADDING THE WOMAN WAS THE SECOND PERSON IN THE COUNTRY TO DIE FROM THE VIRUS, REUTERS REPORTED. 'THE LADY PASSED AWAY TODAY ... SHE WAS THE SECOND PERSON OUT OF THE FIVE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR BIRD FLU TO HAVE DIED SO FAR,' SAID HASSAN AL-BUSHRA, WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) REGIONAL ADVISER FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SURVEILLANCE. BUSHRA SAID THE WOMAN HAD BEEN IN A CRITICAL CONDITION ON A VENTILATOR BEFORE HER DEATH. EGYPT SAID ON SUNDAY A FIFTH PERSON HAD CAUGHT WHAT APPEARED TO BE BIRD FLU BUT WAS TREATED WITH TAMIFLU -- THE DRUG USED TO FIGHT BIRD FLU IN HUMANS -- AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED TO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM THE BIRD FLU VIRUS, WHICH WAS FIRST FOUND IN FEBRUARY AMONG BIRDS IN EGYPT. THE FIRST HUMAN INFECTION APPEARED IN MID-MARCH. THE FIRST HUMAN FATALITY IN EGYPT FROM THE HIGHLY PATHOGENIC H5N1 STRAIN WAS A 30-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO REARED CHICKENS AT HER HOME NORTH OF CAIRO.
