The World Bank (WB) has agreed to grant 7 million U.S. dollars to Egypt to help it combat bird flu, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported on Sunday.

Daniela Gressani, WB vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, made the announcement during her meeting with Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Amin Abaza.

The first bird flu case in dead poultry in Egypt was reported on Feb. 17, 2006 and then the virus spread to 20 of the country's 26 governorates.

Egypt reported the first human bird flu case on March 18, 2006.

So far, Egypt has reported 25 human bird flu cases, of which 13 died, 10 recovered while the other two are under treatment.

Source: Xinhua