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Deadly Bird Flu Spreads to Egypt

update

U.N. officials say a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has spread to Egypt.

Health officials Friday confirmed that dead birds found in three areas of Egypt were infected with H5N1. So far, there have been no confirmed cases of human infection in the country.

Egyptian ministers were meeting today to discuss measures to contain the outbreaks.

Meanwhile, France's Agriculture Ministry Friday says it is conducting further tests on a dead duck, after preliminary tests suggest it could have been infected with the deadly strain. If confirmed, it would be France's first case of H5N1.

The deadly virus has been confirmed in wild birds or poultry in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Experts fear bird flu could mutate into a virus capable of being passed directly between humans and kill millions.

The disease has already killed more than 90 people since 2003, mostly in Asia.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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