Two new human bird flu cases were confirmed Saturday by the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Ibrahim Mahmoud Helmi, 4, and Mahmoud Mohamed Shalabi, 7, tested H5N1 positive, Health Ministry Spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahin said.

The two cases, from Qena and Sohag, Upper Egypt, are currently receiving treatment, he said.

The two children are in stable condition. They contracted bird flu for having direct contact with house poultry, he noted.

The couple brings the total number of human bird flu cases in Egypt to 31. Thirteen of them died and the same number recovered, while five, including the two children, are still hospitalized.