The Egyptian Health Ministry confirmed on Saturday that a four-year-old boy became the 24th human bird flu case in Egypt.

The ministry said in a statement that the victim, identified as Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim from Dakahlia governorate, 90 km north of Cairo, was admitted to Mansoura Chest Hospital on Thursday suffering from high temperature and running nose.

A blood sample of the child tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian virus, the statement said, adding that the child's family members are under medical observation.

The Health Ministry is now carrying out a plan, in cooperation with the UNICEF, to combat bird flu in Egypt.

The H5N1 virus was first detected in Egypt in dead poultry on Feb. 17, 2006 and then the virus spread to 20 of the country's 26 governorates.

Egypt reported the first human bird flu case on March 18, 2006. Of the 23 reported human bird flu cases, 13 people died and 10 recovered.

Source: Xinhua