April 4 (Bloomberg) -- The World Health Organization confirmed two more human cases of bird flu from an outbreak in Pakistan last year, bringing the nation's total to three and suggesting the likelihood of limited transmission between humans.

Laboratory tests in Egypt and the U.S. found H5N1 avian influenza in samples collected in Pakistan from two people related to a 25-year-old man who died Nov. 28 after being infected with the virus, WHO said in an April 3 statement on its Web site. Both have recovered, the Geneva-based agency said.

The tests support earlier findings that ``suggested limited human-to-human transmission likely occurred among some of the family members,'' the agency said. The outbreak didn't extend into the community.

One of those infected may have contracted bird flu from a relative, while the other was exposed to sick poultry, WHO said. Another ``probable'' case of H5N1 in a victim who died Nov. 19 can't be confirmed because no sample is available, WHO said. The two were among nine people suspected of contracting the lethal virus during an H5N1 outbreak in November, including six from one family in the Northwest city of Peshawar.

The H5N1 virus has spread to more than 60 countries since 2003 through trade in poultry and the movement of wild birds. The virus has killed 238 of the 378 people known to have contracted it, according to WHO. It's also caused the deaths of more than 300 million poultry.

To contact the reporter on this story: Simeon Bennett in Singapore at sbennett9@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 3, 2008 22:18 EDT