Avian, or bird flu, can be spread to humans, probably through the breathing in of dried bird droppings which can carry the virus. Avoid close contact with domestic birds. Keep birds or chickens away from your living area. The greatest risk of exposure to the virus is through the handling and slaughtering of live infected poultry. Good hygiene practices are essential during slaughter and post-slaughter handling to prevent exposure via raw poultry meat or cross contamination from poultry to other foods, food preparation surfaces or equipment. We must prohibit and stop eating dead or sick poultry to avoid catching avian influenza.
To date, Egypt and Djibouti are the two countries in Africa that have reported human cases of Avian Influenza. To date, the majority of human cases in Asia have been linked to close contact with infected domestic birds, with especially high risks thought to occur during home slaughter, butchering, and preparation for cooking. Consumption of inadequately cooked poultry and poultry products (including eggs and blood) is an additional risk.
Indonesia: The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed the country's 50th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The investigation reported a contact the week before between the patient and a sick and dying chicken. Of the 50 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 38 have been fatal.
Austria: The virus of the avian flu of the H5 type was detected in dead swans in the south-east of Austria, close to the Slovenian border, and on the German island of Rügen at Baltic sea. The laboratory of expertise of the EU located at Weybridge, in the United Kingdom, received samples in order to confirm the cause of the death but German and Austrian representatives in the field of health are right now convinced that the virus of the avian flu of the type H5N1, very pathogenic, is the cause.
China: China government reported a new area of H5N1 avian influenza in the western part of the country (Xinjiang). Moreover, the 19th confirmed human case has been reported by the official newspapers in the country. It concerns a 31 year old transport driver in Shenzen town, in the South of the country. This case is not counted amongst the 226 known so far.
Niger: A new hearth of avian flu has been just confirmed in Niger, in the village of Boko May Gao, to 700 km in the east of Niamey, three months after the declaration of the first cases of the disease in the country, according to the animal Health network in Niger. The health actions already in place (prohibition of the markets and the trade of the poultry, road controls and epidemiological surveillance reinforced in the commune of Gabi and the common neighbors) will be supplemented this week by slaughtering of poultry within Boko Maigao and in the two localities close to Tabadama and Najiko.
Hungary: European Commission announced in an official statement that a case of "highly pathogenic" avian flu was detected in a breeding of 2.300 geese in Hungary, but the tests so far have not confirmed that it is due to the H5N1 virus.
MRU countries: There are no reports of bird flu or massive deaths of poultry within the sub-region.
Africa: Eight countries have confirmed the virulent H5N1 in poultry. These are Nigeria, Egypt, Niger, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Djibouti.
Liberia: The situation is calm within the country and there are no reports of massive death of poultry.
