Bird flu spreading in Asia

2006-03-16 20:20

Kabul - Myanmar and Malaysia confirmed outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu and took urgent protective measures on Thursday, as the deadly virus continued its march across Asia.

Pakistan also said it was highly likely the same strain caused an earlier outbreak at two chicken farms on the Afghan border, while India stepped up a mass slaughter, following a second outbreak of avian flu.

Meanwhile, a strain of the bird flu virus has been found in a dead stray dog in Azerbaijan, although it was not clear what type it was.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has killed about 100 people in seven, mainly Asian, countries since 2003.

Scientists fear a global pandemic if the virus mutates and becomes easily transmissible between humans.

Afghanistan ordered the immediate slaughter of all birds in affected areas, after the United Nations and the government said samples from Kabul and eastern Jalalabad city tested positive for the deadly strain, the country's first outbreak.

"Thus far in Afghanistan, avian influenza remains confined to the bird population, with no human cases reported. Nonetheless, it is imperative that the human population is protected," they said in a statement.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation last month warned bird flu was "virtually unavoidable" in war-scarred Afghanistan, which is on one of the paths of migrating birds that carry the disease.

One chicken seller in Kabul said sales had plummeted, even before H5N1 was confirmed. "I sold a chicken for 300 afghanis (six dollars) in the past, but now no one will even buy it for 50," said Abdul Waheed.

Across the border, in Pakistan, there was an "80% probability" that the outbreak of bird flu reported in late February was H5N1, according to food, agriculture and livestock ministry spokesperson, Mohammad Afzal.

- SAPA