AFGHANISTAN - 2 test negative

[Snowy Owl]

Afghanistan: bird-flu scare
Two hospitalised in Kunar
http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=an&nid=487

All thanks to a colleague
​

ASADABAD (PAN):

After rumours of being affected by bird flu, two people - a boy and a girl - were hospitalised in the eastern province of Kunar, officials said on Tuesday.

Head of the veterinary section of the public health department Dr Ghalib told Pajhwok Afghan News a boy and a girl were admitted to hospital after officials, involved in a campaign to eliminate bird flu, suspected the two were affected by the virus.

If found positive, this will be the first-ever case of H5N1 bird flu strain among humans in the country.

Spokesman for the public health department Dr Hafeez confirmed the two people were suspected to have contracted H5N1 and hospitalised.

However, he said the girl from Masoud village was discharged from hospital after tested negative for the bird flu virus, while the boy was still under observations.

He said a team of experts from Kabul would soon arrive in Asadabad to examine the patient.

Earlier, the public health ministry announced that at least two cases of H5N1 have been detected among poultry in Chawkai district of Kunar and Jalalabad city.​

 

[Susie]

Re: AFGHANISTAN - Bird-flu scare: Two hospitalised in Kunar

Re: AFGHANISTAN - Bird-flu scare: Two hospitalised in Kunar

http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n106767

Two Afghans in hospital with bird flu symptoms



28 February 2007 | 09:47 | FOCUS News Agency



Asadabad. Two people are in hospital in Afghanistan with possible bird flu symptoms and their blood is being analysed to confirm whether they have the deadly virus, an official said Wednesday.
Afghanistan has not had any human cases of the H5N1 version of bird flu but last week confirmed outbreaks of the virus in chickens and turkeys in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.
The two are in hospital in Kunar.
"We are sure that their symptoms indicate they have bird flu," provincial health chief Assadullah Fazli told AFP. "Blood samples have been sent to the capital for analysis."
Authorities in Kunar and Nangarhar are slaughtering birds and disinfecting areas where the outbreaks were confirmed. Around 4,000 birds are being vaccinated a day, officials said this week.
H5N1 has killed 167 people worldwide since 2003 and scientists fear a global pandemic if the virus mutates and becomes easily transmissible between humans.
Officials say Afghanistan is at high risk because most families keep birds in their backyards.

 

[Theresa42]

Re: AFGHANISTAN - Bird-flu scare: Two hospitalised in Kunar

Re: AFGHANISTAN - Bird-flu scare: Two hospitalised in Kunar

Hat-tip, christian!

Afghans test negative for bird flu
Wed Feb 28, 2:41 PM ET

ASADABAD, Afghanistan (AFP) - The Food and Agriculture Organisation ruled out bird flu in two Afghans admitted to hospital in a province with the deadly virus, the United Nation said Wednesday.

Blood samples from the pair in Kunar province were analysed after they were admitted to hospital with symptoms of the flu.

"Both cases were negative but we are advising the public to take precautions to avoid possible infection," UN spokesman Aleem Siddique said.

Afghanistan has not had any human cases of the H5N1 version of bird flu but last week confirmed outbreaks of the virus in chickens and turkeys in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.

Authorities are slaughtering birds and disinfecting areas where the outbreaks were confirmed. Around 4,000 birds are being vaccinated a day, officials said this week.

H5N1 has killed 167 people worldwide since 2003 and scientists fear a global pandemic if the virus mutates and becomes easily transmissible between humans.

Officials say Afghanistan is at high risk because most families keep birds in their backyards.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070228/hl_afp/healthfluafghanistan