CAIRO, Jan 21 (Aswat Masriya) – A 36 year-old woman died in Cairo after being diagnosed with H5N1 bird flu, the health ministry announced on Wednesday.

The case brings the death toll from the virus to six since the beginning of the year, the health ministry said in a statement.

The ministry reported 21 bird flu cases diagnosed during the year so far. They include eight cases which have been treated and seven which remain under treatment.

Bird flu 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.