Bird flu in Ivory Coast

Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, country is West Africa, bordering Liberia and Guinea (W), Mali and Burkina Faso (N), Ghana (E), Gulf of Guinea (S). Was once of the most prosperous nations in the region, however political turmoil and civil war years have prevented economic reforms which could have brought the country forward.

Recombinant strain of bird flu

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006

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.

Posted in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast contains bird flu outbreak

Sunday, 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.

Posted in Other locations, Ivory Coast