An Egyptian woman has died of bird flu, raising the number of deceased victims this year to 11, Egypt's health ministry announced on Wednesday.  

The woman was in her late 30s and from Ashmoun in the Nile Delta governorate of Menoufia

The health ministry also said in its statement that a new case of bird flu has been recently confirmed in a three year old child in Giza.

According to official figures, this brings the total number of bird flu infections nationwide in 2014 to 27,  of which 11 have died, 12 have been treated and four are still receiving treatment.  

The Egyptian health ministry reiterated its calls for people who handle poultry to seek immediate treatment once flu symptoms start to appear, while strictly advising them to cover their noses and mouths when they deal with any kind of domesticated birds.

In Egypt, most cases of bird flu have been identified in rural areas, where villagers tend to raise poultry in their homes, increasing exposure to live or dead infected birds.

Bird flu first appeared in Egypt in 2006.