Bird Flu Center

Africa’s implication in the matter is rather recent, however, the virus might know a rapid development here as well, as the continent features many of the proper conditions that Asia displays: third world countries with people relying heavily on raising and consuming poultry for their own existence and tightly packed dwellings with little or no hygiene measures to protect them from viruses far more lethal than H5N1.

So far though, only Djibouti (one case) and Egypt (14 cases, of which 6 were fatal - by June 20th) have reported transmissions of the virus to humans. Far more countries however have seen bird flu spread rapidly among wild birds and poultry, facing large outbreaks in scattered points around the continent. International help is much needed here, as poor economic development hinders efforts to contain and remove the illness from Africa. Some countries are facing bird flu with civil war in the background, which makes the efforts even more difficult to sustain.