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February 20, 2006
Avian Flu Alert: Outbreaks in India, France and Egypt India, France, and Egypt identify new cases of H5N1 avian flu among birds
On Saturday (2/18) large poultry producers in western India (state of Maharashta) reported significant domesticated bird deaths (50,000) due to H5N1 avian flu.1
Large-scale culling is now underway. In total 500,000 birds located within a 1.5-mile radius will be slaughtered.2 Health officials are conducting door-to-door fever checks to identify possible human cases of disease.1 Tests are underway to determine whether eight people currently hospitalized with flu-like symptoms are in fact suffering from avian flu. A farmer previously suspected of dying from an H5N1 infection has tested negative for the disease.3
A single dead duck found near Lyon in France has tested positive for an H5N1 strain that is 99% identical to the Asian strain of the virus. This case is perplexing to scientists who cannot explain how the infected duck came to be in France. This is because migratory birds from Asia are not expected to travel so far west at this time of year.4 Veterinarians are checking birds within a three-kilometer security zone in accordance with European Union emergency measures.5
The Egyptian government is appealing for calm following identification of H5N1 in poultry (chickens) in three different governorates: Cairo, Giza, and Minya. People in close proximity to the infected birds have been medically examined. Thus far no human cases have been reported.6
References
- Solanki A. India begins mass slaughter of fowl. Associated Press. February 19, 2006.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/02/19/D8FSK2G84.html - Mukherjee K. India quarantines three as bird flu spreads faster. Reuters. February 20, 2006.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-20T135207Z_01_L17684842_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIRDFLU.xml - Nunan P. Indian health minister: Bird flu outbreak under control. Voice of America. February 20, 2006.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-20-voa21.cfm - Kumar H & Rosenthal E. Health experts surprised at rapid spread of bird flu. The New York Times. February 20, 2006.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/health/20flu.html - Mukherjee K & Gemlich K. Bird flu reaches India and France, death toll at 93. Reuters. February 18, 2006.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=globalNews&storyID=2006-02-18T222618Z_01_L17684842_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIRDFLU.xml - Egypt: Government appeals for calm after appearance of bird flu among poultry. Reuters. February 19, 2006.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/177eac95d2345e926d6eb2dd6842379e.htm
The information presented was compiled by the National Business Group on Health and has been posted with their permission. The views expressed are solely views of the National Business Group on Health and/or source and are not necessarily the views of Aetna Global Benefits. Similarly, the accuracy of this information is solely the responsibility of the author and/or source. For more information on avian flu, please visit the National Business Group on Health's website at: http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/globalhealth/avianflu.cfm