Zanzibar probes chicken deaths

From the link above:

Zanzibar probes chicken deaths for possible bird flu

28 minutes ago

Authorities on Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago said they were investigating the mysterious deaths of chickens for a possible outbreak of bird flu.

The multiple deaths of the birds at a poultry farm on the main island of Unguja prompted the probe, which comes amid heightened fears of the further spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus in Africa, they said on Tuesday.

"This is fresh bad news to me, we have to investigate to identify the possible cause of the chickens' death," said Kassim Gharib, the island's director of livestock development.

"We have to be alert on any problem connected to poultry deaths because bird flu is now a threat to the world," he told AFP. "We must remain on high alert in all areas and continue to seriously step up prevention and control work."

Zanzibar's state-owned Zanzibar Leo daily reported Tuesday that at least 30 chickens at a farm in Kinyasini, 28 kilometers (17 miles) from the island's capital, had died over the past week of an unknown illness that could be bird flu.

Zanzibari authorities banned the importation of poultry and poultry products two weeks ago after a trader was arrested smuggling 40 chickens into Zanzibar from Brazil through Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Dozens of countries have now been hit by the H5N1 strain that originated in Asia and has spread west to Europe and Africa, killing more than 100 people since 2003.

In Africa, it has so far been found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and Niger.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Doodlebug Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: January 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 82	Post Options Post Reply Quote Doodlebug Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Zanzibar probes chicken deaths Posted: April 11 2006 at 8:56am
	http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060411/hl_afp/healthflutanzaniazanzibar_060411152848

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 11 2006 at 9:05am
	From the link above: Zanzibar probes chicken deaths for possible bird flu 28 minutes ago Authorities on Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago said they were investigating the mysterious deaths of chickens for a possible outbreak of bird flu. The multiple deaths of the birds at a poultry farm on the main island of Unguja prompted the probe, which comes amid heightened fears of the further spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus in Africa, they said on Tuesday. "This is fresh bad news to me, we have to investigate to identify the possible cause of the chickens' death," said Kassim Gharib, the island's director of livestock development. "We have to be alert on any problem connected to poultry deaths because bird flu is now a threat to the world," he told AFP. "We must remain on high alert in all areas and continue to seriously step up prevention and control work." Zanzibar's state-owned Zanzibar Leo daily reported Tuesday that at least 30 chickens at a farm in Kinyasini, 28 kilometers (17 miles) from the island's capital, had died over the past week of an unknown illness that could be bird flu. Zanzibari authorities banned the importation of poultry and poultry products two weeks ago after a trader was arrested smuggling 40 chickens into Zanzibar from Brazil through Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam. Dozens of countries have now been hit by the H5N1 strain that originated in Asia and has spread west to Europe and Africa, killing more than 100 people since 2003. In Africa, it has so far been found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and Niger.