Friday, January 18, 2008

Iran: Media Reports New Outbreak In Wild Birds

 

# 1495

 

 

Two days after reporting an incident involving poultry, which occurred on December 10th, Iran has reportedly discovered wild birds in the north of their country to have the H5N1 virus.


Two reports, the first from Press TV, and the second from AFP.

 

Note, ISNA mentioned in both articles is the Iranian Student News Agency.

 

 

 

 

Bird Flu cases found in northern Iran
Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:57:39

 

Iran's Veterinary Organization has announced migratory and indigenous birds have tested positive for the virulent H5N1 bird flu virus.

 

"Avian flu, earlier reported among migratory swans in the International Anzali Wetland in northern Iran, has been detected among geese, ducks and domestic hens in Barzanghib village near the wetland," the Organization's chief, Mojtaba Norouzi told ISNA.

 


The Organization culled domestic birds of the village to ward off an outbreak of the deadly virus in the vicinity of the wetland, he said, urging locals to avoid hunting.

 

The official had earlier told the news agency that the Organization destroys any poultry in places where birds have been discovered with suspicious respiratory diseases.

 

Iran had officially announced an outbreak of bird flu among migratory birds in late 2005.

 

It was reported last week that Indonesia and Iran reached a tentative deal to co-produce bird flu vaccines.
MK/JG/MMN

 

 

 

Iran detects new bird flu outbreak

 

 

TEHERAN (AFP) — Iranian veterinary authorities have detected a new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus among migratory and indigenous birds in the north of the country, the ISNA news agency reported on Friday.

 

 

"The strain of highly pathogenic bird flu that had been detected among migratory swans in ponds at Anzali has been discovered among wild geese and ducks around lakes in Barzanghib and among local birds," veterinary chief Mojtaba Norouzi was quoted as saying.

 

 

"All the chickens in the neighbouring village have been destroyed," Norouzi said, adding a warning against people hunting birds in the area.

 

Norouzi said no cases of bird flu had been found among farm birds.

 

The first instance to which Norouzi referred was in February 2006, when bird flu was found in a group of 135 wild swans found around lakes in Anzali in Gilan province.

 

 

In May the same year, two people showing symptoms of bird flu died in the western province of Kermanshah.