Bird Flu Center

Around 90 million cedis was paid last Friday to three poultry farmers whose business were destroyed by Ghana health authorities to stop an avian influenza outbreak. One of them, who had 1,500 birds culled, received the highest compensation of around 60 million cedis. The farmers complain of slow reaction on the part of the authorities at the time of the outbreak. A health officer in the area declared the press that the compensation was a fair amount and that the panic around the situation had disappeared once it was brought under control. In total, almost two thousand birds were destroyed on the three farms, and 500 more in May.

Egypt’s 38th human case of avian influenza infection was confirmed this week as a woman aged 25. The infection is believed to be the result of contact with dead poultry in the woman’s household. She resides in the Nile Delta province of Damietta, northern Egypt. Bird flu cases in Egypt are rare during the summer months, however the woman developed high fever and was subsequently treated with Tamiflu.

15 Egyptians have so far succumbed to the disease since the first cases were discovered in the country last year. It is the single most affected country outside Asia at the moment. Millions of household across Egypt depend on poultry as their main source of food as well as income. This is making efforts to eradicate the disease very difficult.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has given warnings that the country is prone to future avian influenza outbreaks, as the disease has been detected in several of the neighbouring regions. Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon have all detected bird flu outbreaks, putting Kenya at risk as well. However, the Kenyan official has given reassurances that the administration has been working hard in the last two years for putting together a national task force to face the possibility of such a virus outbreak.

24 have reportedly been set up around the country, to detect any case of bird flu as early as possible. The border points are under close supervision for any signs of infected poultry entering the country. Kenya lies on the path of migratory birds routes from Europe to Asia.

Egypt’s human bird flu victims number has reached 13, with a 5 year old boy living in the region of the Nile Delta succumbing to the disease. He was the 22nd Egyptian person to fall victim to the disease. Another case has now surfaced in the Sharqiya governate, some 40 miles north of the country’s capital, Cairo. Egypt is now fighting a massive outbreak of the disease, as the virus has now been confirmed in 20 of its 26 governorates.

As an Egyptian woman died following a bird flu infection, a five year old boy was confirmed as the country’s 22nd human case. World Health Organization experts are saying that delayed reports in the cases discovered lead to a late reporting of the bird flu cases in the last weeks in Egypt. The last person to succumb to the disease is a 37 year year old woman who had been reported as being in a stable and improving condition following her transfer to a major hospital in Cairo. The 5 year old boy is being treated with Tamiflu, as he tested positive for avian influenza earlier this week. Most of the people becoming infected with bird flu in Egypt had been in close contact with poultry at their residences.

Avian influenza has recorded its first human death in the sub-Saharan region on Wednesday. Test were carried out on a dead woman and proved that she had indeed been infected with the highly pathogenic bird flu virus. The 22 year old woman had previously handled a diseased chicken in her residence in Lagos, Nigeria’s capital. Tests were also carried out on three other victims, but so far they have proven inconclusive. 11 people had been killed by bird flu in Africa so far, all of them in Egypt. Djibouti also faced a human infection, but the patient eventually recovered.

The Egyptian Health Ministry has confirmed that the two bird flu cases recorded in the last month have shown resistance to Tamiflu, the drug thought to best treat the disease among humans. In-depth genetic study done on the viruses, in the case of persons who succumbed to the disease, have shown the that virus is resistant to Tamiflu. Just days ago, World Health Organization officials announced that the Egyptian cases recorded last month showed a mutation from the regular known form of the pathogenic agent.

A woman living in Egypt became the country’s 7th bird flu victim on Monday, as she passed away after being infected with the avian influenza virus. The announcement was made by a health ministry spokesperson, who also gave the information that the infection occurred during slaughtering of domestic birds by the woman. She was presented to the hospital with high fever on October 4th but the disease could not be fought off. Egypt recorded its first case of the highly pathogenic bird flu virus in February and is now the hardest hit country outside Asia.

Two ostriches kept in a farm in Hwange, Matabeleland North, are suspected of having contracted a strain of avian influenza. Health officials from Zimbabwe have not yet confirmed the case, but the province is already on alert after a similar outbreak was reported in the vicinity, near Victoria Falls and Livingston (Zambia). Farmers living in the area say they have reported the case to the veterinary department, which gave reassurances that tests will be carried out to establish the exact nature of the disease.

A statistic by the World Health Organization released on Thursday states that Nigeria has culled around 700,000 birds in its effort to stop the outbreaks of avian influenza, which have been reported in the country for the first time in February this year. The announcement was made during a one-day workshop organized in Enugu, south Nigeria. WHO representative Chijioke Osakwe reported that the culling cost 4.44 million dollars to undertake, but that the method is an effective way to prevent the spread of the disease. Nigeria’s poultry industry accounts for 140 million birds, contributing heavily on the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Osakwe appealed to Nigerian officials that the effort is continued, in order to ensure a rapid detection of future bird flu outbreaks.

Kenyan officials have issued a warning, as a recent outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu virus has been reported in southern Sudan. Testing has begun on people and poultry in the border regions neighbouring this country. Along with surveillance measures, Kenya has also banned poultry and poultry products imports from Sudan. This is the time when wild birds are migrating away from the northern hemisphere into African countries, to escape the cold season. This increases the danger of a spread of the virus into new countries not previously affected by the disease. Kenya has prepared itself by setting up 11 centers in major hospitals, where patients with flu symptoms are being monitored closely to detect any avian influenza case.

An Egyptian woman hospitalized almost a week ago with symptoms of bird flu has been confirmed to carry the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, after thorough laboratory testing. The 39 year old woman is the country’s first case in almost five months. She has received treatment with Tamiflu and her condition is now reported to be stable. Egypt is the country that has been affected the most by the disease, excluding Asian countries, as numerous cases of human infections have been reported until earlier this year. This is now Egypt’s 15th case.

The African country has placed a ban on imports of birds and poultry products coming from southern Sudan, after numerous cases of avian influenza were reported in the province of Juba of the neighbouring country. Local World Health Organization officials in Sudan have confirmed the bird flu cases, but say that no human infection has been reported as yet. Residents of several regions in Kenya have been alerted to take extra precaution measures against the disease. They have also been asked to report any suspicious cases of ill or dead birds to local health authorities. The veterinary department has started collecting blood samples from a number of birds in the area, which are to be sent at the Kenya Medical Research Institute for further analysis.

Around 200 health workers are expected to cover the whole of Nigeria over the next six months, in an effort of searching for and detecting cases of avian influenza as early as possible. This is part of a project launched by the United Nations and the European Union on Thursday. Nigeria is the first African country to have detected cases of H5N1 infections in birds, without reporting any human cases of the disease. The northern state of Kaduna was the first place where such infections were detected and the illness soon spread to almost half of the country’s states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. Nigerian authorities have taken standard measures to curb the disease, such as culling poultry, instituting quarantines and banning poultry transports. Poultry is widely raised in the African country, as millions of people keep chicken in they backyards and poultry is usually transported, sold and handled live, as electricity to run refrigerators is not a common thing. Local authorities claim the disease is under control, as bird flu cases are now quite rare. However, international health experts claim the true extent of the problem might not be fully exposed.

The Liberian government, represented by the National Task Force on the control and prevention of Avian Influenza, has announced a series of measures to be taken in order to battle the virus. Making the announcement in Monrovia, Dr. Chris Toe, the Minister of Agriculture, declared that authorities have developed a national contingency plan for an eventual prevention and control of the disease in the country. The plan is designed to fit in the context of a national preparedness strategy that is set to deal effectively and efficiently with any outbreak in the African country, adding that the campaign benefits from international funding, namely the United States Aid for International Development. Local task forces have been created at a district and community level to combat the virus and raise awareness about the disease, as well as educate the public about handling and reporting cases of ill or dead birds.

After a bird flu outbreak was officially confirmed on September 6, in the province of Juba, southern Sudan, Ugandan authorities have issued a high alert concerning avian influenza. The public has been made aware of the issue, with people traveling to southern Sudan having to take notice of the situation. Peace talks are currently being held in Juba between the Ugandan government and rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army and groups of Ugandans have been known to be traveling to Juba for this. Also, people living along the country’s border have been made aware that any suspicious birds or poultry products being brought into the country should be reported, as they could spark another bird flu outbreak.

An official declaration made by Dr. Sam Okware, the chairperson of the National Task Force on Bird Flu, confirmed that there is an outbreak of avian influenza in Juba, Southern Sudan. The outbreaks was officially confirmed on September 6th and is affecting local chicken. Health officials and district veterinary officers from the districts of Nebbi, Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Pader, Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, Apac, Kaabong, Kotido and Moroto have been advised to strengthen their prevention measures and ensure public education about the issue. High alert is to be kept on Sudan’s borders, where there are fears that illegal poultry products imports could bring more waves of disease.

Birds tested in Egypt’s southern province of Sohag and the Mediterranean coastal province of Damietta have been found to be infected with the avian influenza virus. A health ministry made the announcement on Tuesday, saying that all birds in the area will be culled. This is the country’s first case of bird flu in months, raising concerns of a possible recurrence of the virus with the beginning of the migration season for birds. Egypt first recorded an outbreaks in march and six people eventually succumbed to the disease. World wide, more than 140 people have been killed, with most human deaths being traced back to human contact with sick birds.

Latest biological research into bird flu strains spreading across Africa has revealed that the sequence of H5N1 found in the Ivory Coast, shares part of its structure with polymorphisms of other Qinghai isolates. However, at the same time, other clues point to the fact that the Ivory Coast isolate is a recombinant virus and was independently introduced into the region. It has been found that the specific strain has little similarities with other strains found in Nigeria or Niger. Thus the conclusion arises that flocks of migrating birds along African migratory paths have brought in many different versions of the virus from Asia into western Africa. The Ivory Coast resides within the East Atlantic Flyway, connecting Africa with western Europe and northeast Canada and therefore exposing these continents to a further spread of the virus.

A national multisectoral task-force has been set up in Botswana to prevent a violent bird flu epidemic from ravishing the country. Dr Micu Chimbombi, a member of the group, says the group holds regular meetings to obtain up to date information on the issue. The task force consists of government health and agriculture departments. A technical team is in charge of a general surveillance, looking at issues like the policy direction government can take. Officials say the country will be ready to handle any possible outbreak of avian influenza, just as they have recently placed an importation ban against all poultry eggs and other unprocessed products from neighbouring South Africa. The same official states the government is on full alert and the situation is held under control. However in the vicinity of the country only the H5N2 strain of the virus was discovered, one believed to be less lethal than the feared H5N1 variant.

A farm in the West of South Africa was discovered to have ostrich infected with a benign form of the bird flu virus. A similar outbreak in 2004 forced the authorities to order the culling of around 15,000 ostriches. The European Union blocked ostrich imports from the region until late last year, when it was declared the H5N2 avian flu virus - only dangerous for animals - was completely removed from the area. The Department of Agriculture says it hopes this occurrence will be contained rapidly and will not lead to other measures being taken by its trade partners, to whom it is carrying out negotiations at the moment. The department issued a press release saying South African ostrich and poultry is still safe for consumption.

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. 

The West African state of Burkina Faso has confirmed the positive testing of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu, at three more sites, amongst them the country’s capital city. Along with the Ougadougou site, the disease was detected in Bobo Dioulasso, the country’s economic capital, situated some 400 kilometers to the west, and in Sabou, as stated in a press release by the animal resources minister, Tiemoko Konate. He spoke of results from the tests carried out by the World Health Organization, based on more than 100 samples taken a few weeks ago. Preventive measures were put into place, which include the infected places being isolated and all poultry linked to the sites being culled.

The East African state of Djibouti has reported the first human case of an infection with the deadly H5N1 virus. A statement issued by Djibouti’s Health Ministry is quoted as saying that laboratory tests confirmed the suspicion, after three domestic hens had also previously been infected. The statement was read on the public radio station, but the identity or further details about the condition of the person were not given. The government is taking all measures to keep the virus contained, while accelerating the measures designed to monitor humans and poultry and to ensure a sufficient stock of flu drugs.

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.

Nigerian state of Taraba records a new case of bird flu, as the virus breaks out in three local government areas, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria. One state official declared that infections have been found in Wukari, Ibi and Gassol provinces. The first case to appear in the state was reported in June and soon after representatives from the Federal Diagnosis Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the state Ministry of Agriculture met to decide on a plan of action.

A memorandum was then written to guide the Taraba state government on this issue and officials recognize the problem is of the utmost importance, but the state government seems to deviate its attention to other matters, which is worrying to say the least. A solution to combat the disease is urgently needed and the government of Nigeria is called upon to aid on the efforts. So far experts have been sent to the affected areas and are trying to control the situation. Nigeria is the most populous African country but so far no humans have been infected with the highly dangerous virus.

Testing on a poultry market worker from Morocco denied suspicions that the man had died from bird flu. The 42 year old died following pulmonary bleeding and there is no clue he had been infected with an avian flu virus. The man’s workplace prompted many to suspect the H5N1 virus for its death, however Moroccan authorities now say extensive testing by a six-member committee have found no biological element to point in that direction. The committee was formed of leading medical staff from the country’s most important hospital in Casablanca. It appears as if the man was a heavy smoker which led to a severe infection of his lungs.

Ethiopian authorities have approved a three-year multi-million dollar project to reinforce the country’s ability to fight against a potential deadly bird flu outbreak in the future.

The plan is worth around 98 million euros and will ensure setting up surveillance systems, particular attention to national and regional response, as well as increasing public awareness to the problem and providing the necessary drugs and equipment.

While Ethiopia has not recorded a single case of the dangerous H5N1 virus yet, it is considered to be at risk after the disease appeared in both poultry and human in neighbouring Sudan.

It is only the second country on the continent to be faced with the infection, however Eastern African countries were kept under close surveillance as they host a large number of migratory birds which could have easily brought the virus from elsewhere. Egypt has only reported 5 human fatalities so far, but a fast spread of the virus could see the death toll rise in other African countries as well.

Critics say Egypt is not prepared to handle a major outbreak 

Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, has gone on high alert after a warning from the UN  that the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain could hit North Africa and the Middle East.

Officials from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said they were worried about the potential spread of avian influenza along the pathways of migratory birds to northern and eastern Africa.

On Saturday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a ministerial meeting to discuss measures in the event bird flu cases are detected.

A national committee comprising various government bodies which has been set up to monitor the avian flu situation held an emergency meeting on Friday attended by representatives from the ministries of defence, agriculture and health, in addition to the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to the official Middle East News Agency.

The Egyptian authorities had already banned poultry imports and bird hunting more than two weeks ago.

On 17 October, WHO issued a bulletin warning that daily dynamic interaction with other countries could easily result in the introduction of avian influenza into the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).

The bulletin listed the return of expatriate workers, trade, and tourism, in addition to migratory birds, as likely risk factors.

“The EMR is the nearest region to the current focus of unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza than any other WHO region outside of Asia,” the bulletin added.

Not prepared

With the discovery of the virus in Turkey and Romania, Egyptian officials have been working to assure the public that the country has been safe so far and all safety measures have been taken.

But the measures appear limited to precautionary actions and no national pandemic preparedness plan has been announced.

Ahmad Tawfiq, head of the government-run Authority of Veterinary Services (AVS), said his organisation had increased the monitoring of Egypt’s border areas, especially in North Sinai’s coastal area and Fayum, 100km south of Cairo.

Both areas are frequented by migratory birds.

The ban on imported poultry is expected to raise prices .The authorities have also tightened airport quarantine controls.

Environmental Affairs Minister Maged George said his ministry had taken more than 500 blood samples from migratory birds flying across Egypt to make sure they were not carrying the disease. None had tested positive.

The AVS banned the import of poultry products, including eggs and feathers, from flu-infected countries. A bulletin was sent to veterinary units across the country on how and when to report poultry deaths.

Markets affected

The quail market has been severely affected as customers snubbed the bird, an autumn delicacy, which migrates to Egypt at this time of the year.

Meanwhile, the ban on imported poultry and its by-products is expected to raise the price of already expensive white meat products.

Before flying to Canada in an avian flu-related mission, Health Minster Awad Tag al-Din said Egypt was different from other countries which reported cases of the disease because there had been no infections so far.

“The flu is being monitored closely and is under control,” he said.

Public scepticism

But some suspect the authorities will not announce avian flu cases if any are detected.

This fear stems from a much criticised state policy that maintains “everything is under control” in situations such as this. Such stances are often met with scepticism by Egyptians.

Fahmy Howeidy, a respected Egyptian columnist, launched an attack on the government’s policy in a recent article published in the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

He demanded that officials should adopt a transparent and honest stand with avian flu developments.

“The real fear is if the avian influenza becomes pandemic. If that happens in a developing country like Egypt, it will be a catastrophe”

Rauf Hamid, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research
Rauf Hamid, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences and toxicology in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research, told Aljazeera.net: “The real fear is if the avian influenza becomes pandemic. If that happens in a developing country like Egypt, it will be a catastrophe.

“I think the minister of health flew to Canada to do his avian flu homework. I doubt they have a preparedness plan,” he said.

Although Egypt has a reputable national vaccine institute, Vaccera, its efficiency in handling avian flu has yet to be tested.

When rating developing countries, Egypt’s Vaccera comes third after Cuba and Iran, Hamid said.

“But in recent years, it has been responding to market demands and focused on profit rather than specialising and expanding in vaccines and antivirals.

“So this is a problem in Egypt as we face the avian flu threat.”

Officials at Vaccera and the Ministry of Health were not available for comment.

Tamiflu unavailable

There is no vaccine for avian flu, but there are anti-influenza drugs such as Tamiflu made by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, which does not cure the flu but can lessen symptoms if taken shortly after they appear.

Tamiflu cannot be found even in
Cairo’s larger pharmacies
It is one of a class of treatments recommended by WHO for use in the event of a flu pandemic.

Although it is authorised by the Ministry of Health, Tamiflu cannot be found in Cairo pharmacies.

“Don’t try to look for it anywhere, it’s not in Egypt,” a pharmacist in the top El-Ezabi chemists told Aljazeera.net.

“Antivirals are very expensive and manufactured abroad,” said Hamid. “In the case of a pandemic, the developed countries and rich people will find treatment. But what will a country like Egypt do?”

Counting on luck?

Usama Raslan, head of Ain Shams University’s Medical Microbiology and Infection Control Department, however, argues that the issue is not limited to Egypt’s preparedness.

“On the other hand we might be lucky … Egypt is a warm country and migratory birds do not stop here for long”

Usama Raslan, head of Ain Shams University’s Medical Microbiology and Infection Control Department
“If there is no international cooperation in infection control measures between the UN, WHO and governments, there will be a problem everywhere,” he told Aljazeera.net.

“I don’t think the situation is as grave as it appears to be and I don’t think any government, here or elsewhere, will stop short of taking the needed precautionary methods.

“On the other hand we might be lucky,” said Raslan. “Egypt is a warm country and migratory birds do not stop here for long.”

A new human case of avian influenza was announced on 2 May, bringing the total number of reported human infections in Egypt to 13.

A 27-year-old woman was diagnosed with the disease on 1 May when she visited a Cairo hospital after showing symptoms associated with the avian flu, including high fever and breathing difficulties, according to a Ministry of Health press statement. “An X-ray revealed both her lungs were inflamed,” the statement read.

The infection is the first human case of the potentially fatal virus to have been reported within the capital, Cairo. However, according to the health ministry, the woman contracted the disease in her home village in the Menoufiya governorate, some 80 km north of the capital, while handling sick domestic birds. “She was exposed to infected domestic birds in her village,” read the ministry statement.

After being tested positive, she was immediately administered with Tamiflu capsules in an effort to blunt the efficacy of the virus. “Her condition at present is stable,” the statement noted. Members of her family, meanwhile, have all tested negative for the illness.

The discovery comes only three days after a joint announcement by the health ministry and World Health Organization (WHO) that there were no longer any human cases in Egypt. Both organisations emphasised, however, on the continued possibility of new infections. “The threat posed by bird flu has by no means passed,” said Sayyid al-Abbasi, a media official at the health ministry, prior to the latest discovery.

Egypt’s first human case was reported in mid-March. Since then, four people have died from the disease, while another eight have fully recovered. “Compared with other countries where H5N1 infections among humans have been found, the recovery rate in Egypt has been very good,” said Mona Yassin, WHO technical assistant for media and communications.

On the whole, the survival rate for bird flu patients the world over has been approximately 50 percent, according to health ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shahine.