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No evidence bird flu killed Afghan children-U.N.
10 Apr 2006 12:11:33 GMT
Source: Reuters
KABUL, April 10 (Reuters) - Tests on birds in a remote Afghan mountain village where three children recently died found no evidence of bird flu, the United Nations said on Monday.
Afghanistan confirmed last month the H5N1 virus had been found in six samples from birds in two provinces.
Twenty other samples from seven provinces in all have tested positive for the H5 avian flu sub-type. Results of tests to determine the strain are due but it is assumed to be H5N1, officials say.
Afghanistan has seen no human cases but the recent deaths of the three children from the same family in the central province of Ghor raised fears they might have caught the disease from sick birds. Samples were not taken before the children were buried.
A team of U.N. and government experts flew up to the village by helicopter late last week to collect samples from birds and see if anyone else was sick. [Whoa! No more bus! :p ]
"Tests were conducted on the remains of eight chickens and one sparrow and all were found to be negative for bird flu," the United Nations said in a release.
"Doctors concluded there was no evidence of disease amongst the estimated 1,000 chickens in the village."
The spread of the virus among poultry is a big worry in a country where many farmers and traders are illiterate and have little knowledge of the disease.
Poultry in affected areas has been culled and quarantine measures introduced but authorities have yet to produce much public information on the danger.
Scientists fear the flu virus could mutate into a form that jumps easily between people and starts a global flu pandemic. While only 192 people are known to have been infected so far worldwide, 109 have died.
However, scientists say millions of people could be infected in a human pandemic but with a much lower mortality rate.
Afghanistan's basic veterinary and health sectors, difficult terrain and an insurgency in some areas are likely to complicate efforts to fight the flu if it spreads to people.
10 Apr 2006 12:11:33 GMT
Source: Reuters
KABUL, April 10 (Reuters) - Tests on birds in a remote Afghan mountain village where three children recently died found no evidence of bird flu, the United Nations said on Monday.
Afghanistan confirmed last month the H5N1 virus had been found in six samples from birds in two provinces.
Twenty other samples from seven provinces in all have tested positive for the H5 avian flu sub-type. Results of tests to determine the strain are due but it is assumed to be H5N1, officials say.
Afghanistan has seen no human cases but the recent deaths of the three children from the same family in the central province of Ghor raised fears they might have caught the disease from sick birds. Samples were not taken before the children were buried.
A team of U.N. and government experts flew up to the village by helicopter late last week to collect samples from birds and see if anyone else was sick. [Whoa! No more bus! :p ]
"Tests were conducted on the remains of eight chickens and one sparrow and all were found to be negative for bird flu," the United Nations said in a release.
"Doctors concluded there was no evidence of disease amongst the estimated 1,000 chickens in the village."
The spread of the virus among poultry is a big worry in a country where many farmers and traders are illiterate and have little knowledge of the disease.
Poultry in affected areas has been culled and quarantine measures introduced but authorities have yet to produce much public information on the danger.
Scientists fear the flu virus could mutate into a form that jumps easily between people and starts a global flu pandemic. While only 192 people are known to have been infected so far worldwide, 109 have died.
However, scientists say millions of people could be infected in a human pandemic but with a much lower mortality rate.
Afghanistan's basic veterinary and health sectors, difficult terrain and an insurgency in some areas are likely to complicate efforts to fight the flu if it spreads to people.
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