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  • Israel: Bird flu Confirmed in Binyamina petting zoo

    Agriculture Ministry culls poultry at small chicken coop in local kindergarten after 18 of 25 chickens in place are found dead. Area quarantined and tests being carried out to determine whether virus caused fowls' death

    Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo



    Agriculture Ministry culls poultry at small chicken coop in local kindergarten after 18 of 25 chickens in place are found dead. Area quarantined and tests being carried out to determine whether virus caused fowls' death Meital Yasur-Beit Or <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=text12g>Published: </TD><TD class=text12g>01.03.08, 09:02 / Israel News </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


    <STYLE>P{margin:0;} UL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 16; padding-right:0;} OL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 32; padding-right:0;} H3.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;margin-top:0px;} P.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;}</STYLE><SCRIPT>var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();var is_major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);var is_ie = ((agt.indexOf("msie") != -1) && (agt.indexOf("opera") == -1));var is_ie5 = (is_ie && (is_major == 4) && (agt.indexOf("msie 5.0")!=-1) ); function txt_link(type,url,urlAtts) { switch (type){ case 'external' : if( urlAtts != '' ) {var x = window.open(unescape(url),'newWin',urlAtts)} else {document.location = unescape(url);} break; case 'article' : urlStr = '/articles/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'yaan' : urlStr = '/yaan/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'category' : urlStr = '/home/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html'; url=urlStr.replace('to_replace',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; } } function setDbLinkCategory(url) {eval(unescape(url));}</SCRIPT></B>Agriculture Ministry officials suspect that the bird flu virus may have infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten, following the death of 18 of the 25 chickens in the place.


    The poultry had been culled and a 6-mile quarantined area has been declared around the site to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Laboratory tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of the fowls' death.

    All other chicken coops in the area have been examined as well.

    A state comptroller report published last May indicated that the Agriculture Ministry was inadequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of bird flu.

    The comptroller found that in 2006, the ministry was warned of the danger and began to prepare itself for a potential epidemic, but the ministry's veterinary services were insufficient for this purpose.

    The ministry was not prepared for an outbreak of the bird flu in multiple locations; instead of training professional sources, who could be on call in an event of multiple incidents, it was content in training workers to deal with an outbreak in only one location.

  • #2
    Re: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

    Bird flu scare in Binyamina following chickens' death


    <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="text12g">Published: </td><td class="text12g">01.03.08, 08:29 / Israel News </td></tr></tbody></table>

    <script>var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();var is_major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);var is_ie = ((agt.indexOf("msie") != -1) && (agt.indexOf("opera") == -1));var is_ie5 = (is_ie && (is_major == 4) && (agt.indexOf("msie 5.0")!=-1) ); function txt_link(type,url,urlAtts) { switch (type){ case 'external' : if( urlAtts != '' ) {var x = window.open(unescape(url),'newWin',urlAtts)} else {document.location = unescape(url);} break; case 'article' : urlStr = '/articles/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'yaan' : urlStr = '/yaan/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'category' : urlStr = '/home/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html'; url=urlStr.replace('to_replace',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; } } function setDbLinkCategory(url) {eval(unescape(url));}</script>Agriculture Ministry officials suspect that the bird flu virus may have infected a chicken coop at a small zoo in Binyamina, following the death of 18 of the 25 chickens in the place.

    The poultry was culled and the area has been quarantined to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Lab tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of the fowls' death. (Meital Yasur-Beit Or)
    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...489804,00.html

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    • #3
      Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

      <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=t11 id=inputDate>Last update - 09:40 03/01/2008 </TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><TR><TD class=t18B vAlign=top colSpan=2>Fear of bird flu in Binyamina after 18 chickens found dead </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><TR><TD class=t11B vAlign=top colSpan=2>By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------ Article Tags ---------------------------------- --><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=1><LINK href="/common/scripts/styles.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet>Tags: Binyamina, Israel, Bird Flu </TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><TR><TD>
      <!-- --------------- Display Advertisement if Exists --------------------- -->Eighteen out of 25 chickens were found dead in the northern town of Binyamina on Thursday, in what veterinarians suspect might have been caused by the bird flu.

      Veterinary services put the rest of the poultry to death, and ran epidemiology tests in the Beit Dagan veterinary institute.

      Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one of the two proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are to be received later on Thursday, and will indicate whether the second protein is also found in the chickens.

      Meanwhile, a closure had been declared surrounding the area, and the transference of poultry in any direction is forbidden.


      </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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      • #4
        Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

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        • #5
          Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

          Originally posted by niman View Post
          Commentary

          Likely H5N1 at Petting Zoo in Israel

          Recombinomics Commentary 19:11
          January 3, 2008

          Eighteen out of 25 chickens were found dead in the northern town of Binyamina on Thursday, in what veterinarians suspect might have been caused by the bird flu.

          Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one of the two proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are to be received later on Thursday, and will indicate whether the second protein is also found in the chickens.

          The above comments strongly suggest that H5N1 has been detected in Israel. The high fatality rate in chickens in a petting zoo, coupled with initial positive data for influenza, suggests H5N1 will be confirmed.

          H5N1 in Israel would not be a surprise. The H5N1 isolated in 2006 in Israel and Gaza were virtually identical to the H5N1 in Egypt and Djibouti (see satellite map). Although only Egypt reported H5N1 last season, it was likely present in all of the above countries last year. In late 2005, Israel also reported a suspect case.

          This season the H5N1 detection in birds and patients in Egypt has increased dramatically in recent days (see satellite map) and H5N1 has also been common in Saudi Arabia. There have also be reports (and denials) of H5N1 in Iran.

          It is likely that H5N1 has spread throughout the Middle East.

          Updates on the follow-up bird flu testing in Israel would be useful.


          .
          "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

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          • #6
            Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

            Israel investigates suspected bird flu in chickens
            03 Jan 2008 08:10:37 GMT
            <!-- 03 Jan 2008 08:10:37 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove -->Source: Reuters

            <!-- AN5.0 article title end -->
            <SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/bin/js/article.js"></SCRIPT>
            </SPAN> <!-- Israel investigates suspected bird flu in chickens --><!-- Reuters -->JERUSALEM, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Israeli investigators have found preliminary signs of bird flu in dead chickens from a kindergarten petting zoo, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Thursday.
            "The presence of the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered," Dr. Shimon Pokamunski, a ministry veterinarian, told Israel Radio. "The checks have not yet been completed ... For now, we are culling all of the fowl from the kindergarten's cage." (Editing by Andrew Dobbie)

            The intelligence, technology, and human expertise you need to find trusted answers.

            <!-- news ## for search indexer, do not remove -->

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            • #7
              Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

              <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=t11 id=inputDate>Last update - 10:09 03/01/2008 </TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><TR><TD class=t18B vAlign=top colSpan=2>Fear of bird flu in Binyamina after 18 chickens found dead </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><TR><TD class=t11B vAlign=top colSpan=2>By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------ Article Tags ---------------------------------- --><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=1><LINK href="/common/scripts/styles.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet></TD></TR><!-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --><TR><TD>
              <!-- --------------- Display Advertisement if Exists --------------------- -->Eighteen out of 25 chickens were found dead in the northern town of Binyamina on Thursday, in what veterinarians suspect might have been caused by the bird flu.

              Veterinary services put the rest of the poultry to death, and ran epidemiology tests in the Beit Dagan veterinary institute.

              Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one of the two proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are to be received later on Thursday, and will indicate whether the second protein is also found in the chickens.

              Meanwhile, a closure had been declared surrounding the area, and the transference of poultry in any direction is forbidden.


              </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
              "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

                Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo



                Agriculture Ministry culls poultry at small chicken coop in local kindergarten after 18 of 25 chickens in place are found dead. Area quarantined and tests being carried out to determine whether virus caused fowls' death Meital Yasur-Beit Or <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=text12g>Published: </TD><TD class=text12g>01.03.08, 09:02 / Israel News </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


                <STYLE>P{margin:0;} UL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 16; padding-right:0;} OL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 32; padding-right:0;} H3.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;margin-top:0px;} P.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;}</STYLE><SCRIPT>var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();var is_major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);var is_ie = ((agt.indexOf("msie") != -1) && (agt.indexOf("opera") == -1));var is_ie5 = (is_ie && (is_major == 4) && (agt.indexOf("msie 5.0")!=-1) ); function txt_link(type,url,urlAtts) { switch (type){ case 'external' : if( urlAtts != '' ) {var x = window.open(unescape(url),'newWin',urlAtts)} else {document.location = unescape(url);} break; case 'article' : urlStr = '/articles/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'yaan' : urlStr = '/yaan/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'category' : urlStr = '/home/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html'; url=urlStr.replace('to_replace',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; } } function setDbLinkCategory(url) {eval(unescape(url));}</SCRIPT></B>Agriculture Ministry officials suspect that the bird flu virus may have infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten, following the death of 18 of the 25 chickens in the place.


                The poultry had been culled and a 6-mile quarantined area has been declared around the site to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Laboratory tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of the fowls' death.

                All other chicken coops in the area have been examined as well.

                A state comptroller report published last May indicated that the Agriculture Ministry was inadequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of bird flu.

                <TABLE dir=ltr style="TABLE-LAYOUT: fixed; WIDTH: 300px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>
                </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
                The comptroller found that in 2006, the ministry was warned of the danger and began to prepare itself for a potential epidemic, but the ministry's veterinary services were insufficient for this purpose.

                The ministry was not prepared for an outbreak of the bird flu in multiple locations; instead of training professional sources, who could be on call in an event of multiple incidents, it was content in training workers to deal with an outbreak in only one location.

                Agriculture Ministry culls poultry at small chicken coop in local kindergarten after 18 of 25 chickens in place are found dead. Area quarantined and tests being carried out to determine whether virus caused fowls' death
                "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

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                • #9
                  Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

                  Petting zoo?! That is a horrible scenario.
                  ...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. - Sherlock Holmes

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                  • #10
                    Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

                    Suspicion of Bird flu epidemic: Kindergarten in Binyamina closed


                    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=text12g>Published: </TD><TD class=text12g>01.03.08, 10:28 / Israel News </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN>

                    <STYLE>P{margin:0;} UL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 16; padding-right:0;} OL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 32; padding-right:0;} H3.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;margin-top:0px;} P.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;}</STYLE><SCRIPT>var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();var is_major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);var is_ie = ((agt.indexOf("msie") != -1) && (agt.indexOf("opera") == -1));var is_ie5 = (is_ie && (is_major == 4) && (agt.indexOf("msie 5.0")!=-1) ); function txt_link(type,url,urlAtts) { switch (type){ case 'external' : if( urlAtts != '' ) {var x = window.open(unescape(url),'newWin',urlAtts)} else {document.location = unescape(url);} break; case 'article' : urlStr = '/articles/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'yaan' : urlStr = '/yaan/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'category' : urlStr = '/home/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html'; url=urlStr.replace('to_replace',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; } } function setDbLinkCategory(url) {eval(unescape(url));}</SCRIPT></B>A kindergarten in Binyamina has been shut down until further notice, after dead chicken carcasses were found in its chicken coop. Agriculture Ministry officials arrived at the scene to explain the situation to the parents and children.

                    At this stage it seems that the children did not come into contact with the birds. (Meital Yasur-Beit Or) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...489856,00.html
                    CSI:WORLD http://swineflumagazine.blogspot.com/

                    treyfish2004@yahoo.com

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                    • #11
                      Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

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                      • #12
                        Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

                        Commentary

                        H5 Confirmed at Kindergarten Petting Zoo in Israel

                        Recombinomics Commentary 09:11
                        January 3, 2008

                        Israeli investigators have found preliminary signs of bird flu in dead chickens from a kindergarten petting zoo, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Thursday.

                        "The presence of the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered," Dr. Shimon Pokamunski, a ministry veterinarian, told Israel Radio.

                        The above comments confirm H5 at a zoo in Binyamina in Israel. The high percentage of dead chickens indicates the H5 will be H5N1. The presence of H5N1 in a kindergarten petting zoo increases concerns of transmission to children.

                        H5N1 was widely reported in early 2006. The H5N1 in Israel was virtually identical to H5N1 in Egypt, Djibouti, and Gaza (see satellite map). H5N1 was identified in patients in Egypt and Djibouti. In 2007 H5N1 was widely reported in Egypt. In 2006 and 2007 OIE reports detail 922 outbreaks in Egypt (see satellite maps here here here here here), but neighbors reported no H5N1.

                        This season H5N1 was widely reported in Europe and outbreaks have spiked in Egypt in the past few weeks, including fatal cases as well as suspect cluster in Egypt (see satellite map). Outbreaks have also been widely reported in Saudi Arabia (see satellite map). This outbreakin Haifa along the northern coast of Israel is consistent with a wild bird origin.

                        Multiple alerts have been issued in the region, including Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. Azerbaijan has banned poultry imports from Iran because of reported outbreaks there.

                        The sequences from recent outbreaks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt have not been released, but sequences from multiple wild bird outbreaks in Germany as well as Krasnodar indicate the H5N1 circulating in Europe is the Uva Lake strain, which was also in Kuwait last year.

                        It is also likely that the Uva Lake strain was responsible for the clusters in Pakistan.

                        Release of withheld sequences would be useful.

                        .
                        "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

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                        • #13
                          Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

                          Bird Flu Suspected From Kindergarten Petting Zoo In Israel []

                          1/3/2008 6:23:56 AM Israeli investigators have found suspected Bird flu near a Binyamina kindergarten Thursday, after 18 out of 25 hens at the local petting zoo died in the last week, an Agriculture Ministry official said.

                          Workers from the ministry culled the other hens and an animal curfew was imposed within a 10-kilometer radius of the kindergarten.

                          "The presence of the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered," Dr. Shimon Pokamunski, a ministry veterinarian, told Israel Radio. "The checks have not yet been completed ... For now, we are culling all of the fowl from the kindergarten's cage," he said.

                          Though it is believed that none of the children came in contact with the infected fowl, laboratory tests are to be conducted to determine whether the flu, a common animal disease, is of the strain dangerous to humans.


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                          • #14
                            Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

                            Deadly strain of bird flu found in Binyamina



                            Health Ministry makes positive ID of H5N1 bird flu virus in Binyamina kindergarten. Agriculture Ministry quarantines all chicken coops, hatcheries within six-mile radius pending further testing Raanan Ben-Zur <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=text12g>Published: </TD><TD class=text12g>01.03.08, 14:22 / Israel News </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


                            <STYLE>P{margin:0;} UL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 16; padding-right:0;} OL{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-right: 32; padding-right:0;} H3.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;margin-top:0px;} P.pHeader {margin-bottom:3px;COLOR: #192862;font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;}</STYLE><SCRIPT>var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();var is_major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);var is_ie = ((agt.indexOf("msie") != -1) && (agt.indexOf("opera") == -1));var is_ie5 = (is_ie && (is_major == 4) && (agt.indexOf("msie 5.0")!=-1) ); function txt_link(type,url,urlAtts) { switch (type){ case 'external' : if( urlAtts != '' ) {var x = window.open(unescape(url),'newWin',urlAtts)} else {document.location = unescape(url);} break; case 'article' : urlStr = '/articles/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'yaan' : urlStr = '/yaan/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html';url=urlStr.replace('to_replace ',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; case 'category' : urlStr = '/home/0,7340,L-to_replace,00.html'; url=urlStr.replace('to_replace',url); if( urlAtts == '' || !urlAtts) {document.location = url;} else {var x = window.open(url,'newWin',urlAtts)} break; } } function setDbLinkCategory(url) {eval(unescape(url));}</SCRIPT></B>The Haifa District Physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, confirmed Thursday that a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten.

                            Earlier Thursday morning 18 of the 25 chickens in the kindergarten's petting zoo, were found dead.
                            "The virus was identified as H5N1 bird flue," said Rishpon, adding that humans that contract this strain have only a 50% survival rate.

                            Rishpon commended the kindergarten teacher for her decision not to discard the dead chickens but rather to call a veterinarian, who sent samples of the poultry's blood to the Health Ministry for further testing.

                            "The kindergarten staff has been given preventive medicines and as far as we know, none of the children or their parents came in contact with the birds.

                            "The virus can only be transmitted by direct contact," he added. "We have alerted the hospitals in the area to look out for any children or adults coming in with bird flu-like symptoms."

                            Veterinarian Gilad Goldstein, who was called to the scene, told Ynet he was called in due to an unusual number of deaths in the petting zoo.

                            "It was obvious that some sort of epidemic hit the petting zoo, which made me suspect either NVD (Newcastle Disease Virus ? a viral infection in birds) or the bird flu? knowing there was a bird flu alert in the area, I sent blood samples to the Health Ministry."

                            Aryeh Zitouni, head of the Binyamina-Givat Ada Regional Council, told Ynet that "at this point we know the disease has not spread further? the hatcheries in the surrounding areas have been fumigated and we are still waiting to hear whether or not we'll have to put down all the poultry within a two-mile radius."

                            The Agriculture Ministry announced it was putting all chicken coops and hatcheries within a six-mile radius under quarantine: "We are testing all poultry in the quarantined area but so far have no further reports on any dead birds," said head of the Agriculture Ministry's poultry disease division.

                            Health Ministry makes positive ID of H5N1 bird flu virus in Binyamina kindergarten. Agriculture Ministry quarantines all chicken coops, hatcheries within six-mile radius pending further testing

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                            • #15
                              Re: Israel: Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo

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