An Egyptian four-year old child has contracted bird flu. Dina Ali, from Deshna town in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena, was admitted to Qena Fever Hospital on Sunday, said Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahin.

The child was suffering from high temperature and respiratory problems after being in direct contact with infected birds, he noted. The spokesman said the child was given the Tamiflu and was now in a stable condition.

Monday's case is the 36th since the bird flu virus was first detected in Egypt in February 2006.

Fifteen people died of the avian flu, 20 recovered and one is still being treated.