Occam�s razor missing in Iraq

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   U.N. agency tests dead Iraqi man for bird flu

28 Jan 2006 18:25:01 GMT

Source: Reuters

GENEVA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Tests for bird flu will be carried out on a dead 

Iraqi man, whose niece also died 10 days ago and first raised fears that 

the deadly virus had reached the country, the World Health Organisation 

said on Saturday.

Although tests made in Iraq on samples from the girl, who died on Jan. 

17 near Sulaimaniyah, not far from the country's border with Turkey, were 

negative, both had suffered breathing difficulties, WHO spokeswoman 

Maria Cheng told Reuters.

"Given that both these people had severe respiratory problems and that it 

is near the border with Turkey, we need to check," she told Reuters.

Cheng said that samples from the man, who died on Friday, would be 

sent to a WHO-affiliated laboratory in Britain, the same one that was used 

to verify cases in the Turkish outbreak.

Turkey reported more than 20 human cases of the avian virus this month, 

several months after it first detected the virus in poultry.

So far there have been no confirmed cases amongst poultry in Iraq. 

However, some birds died recently in the area from which the girl and her 

uncle came, but it was not yet known whether the deaths were due to bird 

flu, Cheng said.

"Birds often die of many things," she said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B316006.htm

Occam's razor is a logical principle attributed to the 

mediaeval philosopher  William of Occam . The principle states that one 

should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed.

Edited by Rick

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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: Occam�s razor missing in Iraq Posted: January 28 2006 at 3:16pm
	U.N. agency tests dead Iraqi man for bird flu 28 Jan 2006 18:25:01 GMT Source: Reuters GENEVA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Tests for bird flu will be carried out on a dead Iraqi man, whose niece also died 10 days ago and first raised fears that the deadly virus had reached the country, the World Health Organisation said on Saturday. Although tests made in Iraq on samples from the girl, who died on Jan. 17 near Sulaimaniyah, not far from the country's border with Turkey, were negative, both had suffered breathing difficulties, WHO spokeswoman Maria Cheng told Reuters. "Given that both these people had severe respiratory problems and that it is near the border with Turkey, we need to check," she told Reuters. Cheng said that samples from the man, who died on Friday, would be sent to a WHO-affiliated laboratory in Britain, the same one that was used to verify cases in the Turkish outbreak. Turkey reported more than 20 human cases of the avian virus this month, several months after it first detected the virus in poultry. So far there have been no confirmed cases amongst poultry in Iraq. However, some birds died recently in the area from which the girl and her uncle came, but it was not yet known whether the deaths were due to bird flu, Cheng said. "Birds often die of many things," she said. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B316006.htm Occam's razor is a logical principle attributed to the mediaeval philosopher William of Occam . The principle states that one should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed. Edited by Rick