A two-year-old Egyptian boy is being treated for bird flu, the 26th case of the deadly virus in the country, the health ministry announced on Monday.

Yusef Mohammed Mahmud from the southern city of Aswan was admitted to hospital on Friday with a high temperature, ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shaheen was quoted as saying by the official MENA news agency.

He is currently in stable condition and has been given the Tamiflu drug, while his family is under observation, Shaheen added.

On Wednesday, a 10-year-old girl from Aswan also came down with the virus.

The vast majority of bird flu victims in Egypt have been women and children due to their large role in taking care of domestic fowl. Thirteen have died.

Egypt, which is on a major migratory route for birds, is the hardest hit country outside Asia.