CONGO: Dead Birds, "NOT BIRD FLU"

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BRAZZAVILLE, 10 April (IRIN) - Poultry that died from an unspecified disease in the Republic of Congo (ROC) did not die of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu, according to a government minister.

All test results on samples of organic matter from the dead birds conducted at both the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in South Africa came back negative, said agriculture minister Jeanne Dambendzet on 7 April.

"The government is very concerned about bird flu and is diligently following epidemiological surveillance activities," she added. ROC has banned all poultry imports since October 2005.

The H5N1 virus is normally only transmitted between birds and, less commonly, pigs, according to the World Health Organization. "[It has also>, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans."

In Africa, the H5N1 virus has broken out in Nigeria, Niger, Egypt and Cameroon, which borders ROC. 

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/19fc6b31997cdc1f2a6cc1199c8fff6e.htm

Edited by Rick - April 10 2006 at 5:10pm

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: CONGO: Dead Birds, "NOT BIRD FLU" Posted: April 10 2006 at 5:10pm
	BRAZZAVILLE, 10 April (IRIN) - Poultry that died from an unspecified disease in the Republic of Congo (ROC) did not die of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu, according to a government minister. All test results on samples of organic matter from the dead birds conducted at both the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in South Africa came back negative, said agriculture minister Jeanne Dambendzet on 7 April. "The government is very concerned about bird flu and is diligently following epidemiological surveillance activities," she added. ROC has banned all poultry imports since October 2005. The H5N1 virus is normally only transmitted between birds and, less commonly, pigs, according to the World Health Organization. "[It has also>, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans." In Africa, the H5N1 virus has broken out in Nigeria, Niger, Egypt and Cameroon, which borders ROC. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/19fc6b31997cdc1f2a6cc1199c8fff6e.htm Edited by Rick - April 10 2006 at 5:10pm

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 10 2006 at 6:28pm
	Please try to post only news items involving specific Bird Flu devlopments in this Forum. Thanks