#11,292
Two weeks ago FluTrackers picked up on local Arabic media reports of a `bird flu' outbreak in the Hasbaya district of Lebanon. Reports that were quickly denied by the Minister of Agriculture (see Shehayeb: tens of Hassbaya chicken killed in Newcastle disease and not Bird Flu).
Although many countries in the Middle East have reported HPAI avian flu, and Lebanon has had some scares, I can't find any past OIE reports for HPAI H5 for that nation.
That appears to be about to change, however, as today the Minister of Agriculture held a press conference this morning and announced an outbreak of (presumably HPAI) H5 in the town of Nabi sheet (which appears to be about 50 miles North and slightly east of Hassbaya).
The precautions ordered are consistent with what we'd expect for HPAI H5N1, but as yet, we have no subtype announced. Although this appears to be a small outbreak at this time, given impact and continual evolution of H5N1 in Egypt, even limited outbreaks are taken very seriously.
This from Lebanon's National News Agency.
Thursday April 21, 2016 at 10:07
National Public Health Ministry said in a statement today that "the impact monitoring H5 strain of bird flu in the town of Nabi sheet in the spot over poultry farms, the Ministry of public health in collaboration with the Ministry of agriculture and للاغاثه¬والجهات on the army and security forces and other emergency plan activated on this disease.
For that matter, the Ministry of public health, that emphasizes the following for safety of citizens:
First: the bird flu of H5 type is a high-risk disease transmitted from live or dead infected birds to humans who have direct contact with them through discharges including feathers. The disease may lead to death by more than 50%.
II: human disease symptoms are summarized in the high temperatures of over 38 degrees, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle pain may be accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhea. It is possible that the disease progresses to acute respiratory insufficiency and then to death.
Thirdly: the incubation period ranging from one day to one week in humans and has not been proven so far, transmission from person to person.
IV: the transfer or any smuggling of infected birds, and that they did not show symptoms, presents farm to which bird to bird die-offs in full within a period not exceeding 48 hours subject to a severe health risk.
V: it is important to note that some birds kalaus duck may not show symptoms of the disease but can transmit the disease to humans and to other birds.
VI: is not transmitted the disease through the consumption of meat of birds and poultry cooked well but the slaughter of infected birds and prepared for human consumption by working displays of a serious risk to health.
Seventh: no citizen had direct contact with birds in the affected area, developed symptoms (fever, respiratory symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath ...) to review physician immediately and inform the Ministry of public health.
VIII: on all citizens in the affected area comply with instructions issued by the ministries of public health and Agriculture and the security forces to ensure their safety and to safeguard public health, the difference of the ministries concerned are field work for disease control and prevention.
In the context of preventive measures has been providing preventive treatment to all the people who had direct contact with infected birds in the town ".
