Bird flu discovered in Gaza Strip
Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 16:09 GMT
Initial tests on dead chickens suggest the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread to the Gaza Strip, Israeli and Palestinian officials have said.
The tests were conducted after some 200 chickens died in the southern town of Rafah, on the border with Egypt.
Israel has been culling hundreds of thousands of birds after an H5N1 outbreak was confirmed on farms next to the Gaza Strip last week.
Egypt on Tuesday reported its fourth suspected case of bird flu in humans.
Earlier this month, Egyptian state TV said a woman had died from the H5N1 virus.
The world's human death toll has reached 103 since late 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The latest five deaths were confirmed by the WHO in Azerbaijan.
The virus cannot pass easily from one person to another but there are fears it could mutate, triggering a pandemic.
US scientists have confirmed the H5N1 virus has evolved into two genetically distinct strains, potentially increasing the risk to humans.
continues...
Initial tests on dead chickens suggest the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread to the Gaza Strip, Israeli and Palestinian officials have said.
The tests were conducted after some 200 chickens died in the southern town of Rafah, on the border with Egypt.
Israel has been culling hundreds of thousands of birds after an H5N1 outbreak was confirmed on farms next to the Gaza Strip last week.
Egypt on Tuesday reported its fourth suspected case of bird flu in humans.
Earlier this month, Egyptian state TV said a woman had died from the H5N1 virus.
The world's human death toll has reached 103 since late 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The latest five deaths were confirmed by the WHO in Azerbaijan.
The virus cannot pass easily from one person to another but there are fears it could mutate, triggering a pandemic.
US scientists have confirmed the H5N1 virus has evolved into two genetically distinct strains, potentially increasing the risk to humans.
continues...
posted by ... at 7:09 PM
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