Egypt is now the third most affected country by bird flu, after Indonesia and Vietnam. To date there have been 47 human cases, with 20 deaths from the H5N1 influenza virus. So far the government has closed 18 infected chicken farms this year as the disease sweeps the country, but authorities said it is still difficult for humans to catch. Generally, victims catch the virus after inhaling the blood, feathers or powered faeces of chickens.
