"Some countries have sought to benefit from Egypt's expertise in fighting bird flu," said the chairman of the State Information Service (SIS).

Ambassador Ayman Al-Kaffas, who also doubles as the spokesman for the higher national committee for combating bird flu, said the US envoy who is tasked with fighting the H5N1 virus has hailed the Egyptian government's efforts on fighting the virus.

The remarks were made urging a meeting of the national committee for combating bird flu under Health Minister Hatem El-Gabali.

During the Egyptian national anti-bird flu committee meeting, reports on the spread of the avian flu were reviewed, said SIS Chairman Ayman Kaffas.

A total of 23 people contracted the virus, 13 died and the rest recovered, he added. Some 21 of the human bird flu cases contracted the virus because of people's direct contact with sick poultry, he added.

Kaffas noted that efforts were under way to produce a local bird flu vaccine.

During Wednesday7/3/2007 meeting, the Cabinet tackled a bill on poultry trade that would be presented to the People's Assembly, kaffas noted.

Kaffas said the bill would impose stricter measures on moving poultry among governorates and would prevent poultry slaughter outside state slaughterhouses.

He added that the World Health organization hailed the efforts exerted by Egypt in combating the avian flu.