Ivory Coast contains bird flu outbreak
July 2nd, 2006
Authorities in the African country claim their anti-bird flu program is showing results, as rapid mass culling of suspected birds has kept the bird flu virus from spreading rapidly around the country. It has also left bird markets in Abidjan deserted, as the poultry industry is taking a nose dive. The efforts are made among a continuous civil war which broke out in the West African nation three and a half years ago. And as the presence of the virus has also been found in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast is the only country to use proper protective clothing for the personnel involved in culling of the birds.
The outbreaks are a major blow in a region where many people rely on poultry products for their very survival. While some panic and choose to stay away from chicken meat or egg products for good, others say until a human case is discovered there should be no reason to worry.