CAIRO, Jan 14 (Aswat Masriya) - A total of 13 cases suspected of being H5N1 bird-flu positive have been quarantined in the Nile Delta city of Menoufiya, director of preventive medicine department said on Wednesday.

Samples from the suspected patients will be sent for analysis at the central labs, Department Director, Reda Aish, said.

A 65 year-old woman from Assiut governorate died in hospital earlier on Wednesday after being diagnosed with H5N1, the health ministry announced.

At least twelve people have contracted the virus this year; two cases have died, seven remain under treatment, and three have recovered, the health ministry said.

Infection is usually centred in rural areas, where citizens, especially women, frequently come in direct contact with live poultry. 

The World Health Organisation warned that there is a risk of human infection when the virus is circulating in poultry, especially to those in infected environments.