The National Committee for Combating Bird Flu has confirmed that human bird flu infection declined in May after just one case was announced in March. The reports which the committee discussed-under Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza- noted that three cases died since the start of 2008 and that 50 human cases were bird flu infected since the deadly virus first appeared in Egypt on February 17, 2006 where 28 died, paying heed to the fact that most injuries were among people raising birds at homes.

For his part, Ambassador Ayman el-Qaffas, the official spokesman for the committee, said in press statements that the committee's members lauded the good media and press coverage of the issue which helped raise awareness of the citizens and raising-poultry personnel, leading to the decline of the deadly virus. The economic losses out of the deadly virus hit LE 822 million given that 27 million birds were culled since the appearance of the deadly H5N1 virus, added el-Qaffas.

It is worthwhile to mention that Egypt will host the UN-sponsored bird flu combat conference in Sharm el-Sheikh with the participation of 120 countries from October 24-26. Egypt is expected to launch an international call for combating the deadly virus in the developing countries.