Pakistan: 2 new BF cases in birds

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

Pakistan confirms 2 cases of bird flu
by Matthew Pennington

Islamabad, March 21: Pakistan�s beleaguered poultry industry braced for a further drop in sales after the government announced on Tuesday the country�s first two cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
H5 avian influenza was detected in chickens at two farms in northwestern Pakistan last month, sending chicken sales tumbling by 40 per cent, according to an industry association. The government said tests conducted in Britain confirmed the subtype to be H5N1. The agriculture ministry said it had taken all necessary measures to stop it spreading further in Pakistan but urged farmers to be vigilant.
"We are continuously watching to see whether there is another outbreak elsewhere (in Pakistan)," ministry spokesman Mohammed Afzal told Geo television. India, Iran and most recently, Afghanistan, have already reported H5N1 outbreaks, but officials confirmed this was the first in Pakistan.
"This has never happened in our life. This is for the first time in our history that this (H5N1) has been reported," said Rana Mohammed Akhlaq, the ministry�s deputy animal husbandry commissioner.
Pakistan�s two cases were detected at a commercial farm in Charsadda, near Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, and at a small breeder farm in hill resort city of Abbottabad. (AP)
http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=3&cat2=32&newsid=215003&RF=DefaultMain

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
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: Pakistan: 2 new BF cases in birds Posted: March 21 2006 at 8:55am
	Pakistan confirms 2 cases of bird flu by Matthew Pennington Islamabad, March 21: Pakistan�s beleaguered poultry industry braced for a further drop in sales after the government announced on Tuesday the country�s first two cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. H5 avian influenza was detected in chickens at two farms in northwestern Pakistan last month, sending chicken sales tumbling by 40 per cent, according to an industry association. The government said tests conducted in Britain confirmed the subtype to be H5N1. The agriculture ministry said it had taken all necessary measures to stop it spreading further in Pakistan but urged farmers to be vigilant. "We are continuously watching to see whether there is another outbreak elsewhere (in Pakistan)," ministry spokesman Mohammed Afzal told Geo television. India, Iran and most recently, Afghanistan, have already reported H5N1 outbreaks, but officials confirmed this was the first in Pakistan. "This has never happened in our life. This is for the first time in our history that this (H5N1) has been reported," said Rana Mohammed Akhlaq, the ministry�s deputy animal husbandry commissioner. Pakistan�s two cases were detected at a commercial farm in Charsadda, near Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, and at a small breeder farm in hill resort city of Abbottabad. (AP) http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=3&cat2=32&newsid=215003&RF=DefaultMain