CAIRO, May 27 (RIA Novosti) - A girl and a boy, both aged four, have been diagnosed with bird flu in the north Egyptian Sharqia Governorate, the MENA news agency reported.

The country's Health Ministry said the children became infected after contact with domestic poultry. They have been hospitalized with high temperatures, but are currently in a stable condition after being treated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

Egypt's first case of bird flu was recorded in 2006. Since then, 76 people have contracted the virus in the country, of whom 27 have died. The latest victim, a four-year-old girl, died on May 28.

According to World Health Organization data, a total of 262 people have died worldwide since bird flu was first discovered in 2003.