IRAN: Suspicious Bird Flu Deaths in Pardisan Park

[Susie]

Suspicious Bird Flu Deaths in Pardisan Park
http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2800/html/panorama.htm#s214359

Suspicious poultry deaths have been reported in Tehran?s Pardisan Park, purportedly attributed to an outbreak of avian flu, ISNA reported.
Reacting to the yet unconfirmed report, chairman of environmental NGO Avay-e Sabz (Green Song) Society called on citizens, especially children to avoid visiting the park located along Hemmat Highway.
Vahid Norouzi urged the denizens to stay away from the park until the results of laboratory examinations on carcasses of 24 saker falcons, one kestrel and a number of owls are revealed.
Insisting that it is not yet confirmed whether the birds died of avian flu virus, the expert observed, ?We wouldn?t be witness to the death of these birds, had efficient precautionary measures been in place. The park does not even have a full-time veterinarian.?
The Veterinary Organization took samples from the perished poultry during Feb. 23-March 1.
One of the dead birds has so far tested positive for avian flu.
It was decided that the whole bird population in the park be culled on March 6, but the measure was postponed until the final results are announced.
The Department of Environment officials were not immediately available for comment.

 

[HenryN]

Re: IRAN: Suspicious Bird Flu Deaths in Pardisan Park

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/03070701/H5N1_Tehran.html

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: IRAN: Suspicious Bird Flu Deaths in Pardisan Park

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/03070701/H5N1_Tehran.html

Commentary

Qinghai H5N1 Suspected in Tehran Iran
Recombinomics Commentary
March 7, 2007

Suspicious poultry deaths have been reported in Tehran?s Pardisan Park, purportedly attributed to an outbreak of avian flu, ISNA reported.

Vahid Norouzi urged the denizens to stay away from the park until the results of laboratory examinations on carcasses of 24 saker falcons, one kestrel and a number of owls are revealed.

The Veterinary Organization took samples from the perished poultry during Feb. 23-March 1.

One of the dead birds has so far tested positive for avian flu.

The above comments strongly suggest Qinghai H5N1 has been detected in Tehran, Iran. These results are not unexpected. Adjacent Kuwait has been reporting H5N1 positive birds for the past few weeks, including falcons. Birds of prey are particularly susceptible to H5N1 infections, as migratory birds spread H5N1 to resident birds and carnivores. Kuwait has reported over fifty positive birds throughout the country, as has Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

It is likely that H5N1 infections are throughout the Middle East, although surveillance and reporting remains scandalously poor.

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