The Egyptian Agriculture Ministry on Sunday confirmed a new case of H5N1 bird flu among fowl in Sohag Governorate, some 400 km south of Cairo, the official MENA news agency reported.

The ministry said in a statement that a sample taken from birds in various villages and farms in Sohag was tested positive for the deadly avian virus.

This has been the first case of bird flu among fowl since July 5 when Egypt reported the last case after the outbreak of the epidemic on Feb. 17.

Necessary measures have been taken to cull birds in surrounding areas, according to the statement.

The ministry has also taken samples from some 20 people who were in close contact with infected birds, it said, adding all samples taken within the past period from farms or chicken pens were tested negative for the virus.

Egypt found the first bird flu case in dead poultry on Feb. 17, and the virus then spread to 20 governorates of the country's 26 in total.

The populous country reported first human bird flu case on March 18. Since then, it has reported 14 human cases, of which six died and the rest recovered. The latest deadly human case was reported on May 18 in Minya governorate, some 220 km south of Cairo.

Source: Xinhua