February 7, 2007

Pakistan confirms H5N1 discovery in farms

Laboratory tests confirm that the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found near the Pakistani capital and elsewhere, the government announced Tuesday (Feb 6).

The virus, which badly affected the country's poultry industry last year, was found in the chicken flock at a home near Islamabad, and also in a flock of peacocks in a village of north-western Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

The state-run National Reference Laboratory received these two "positive samples of bird flu (H5N1)" over the weekend, the statement said.

It said although there was no report of the spread of virus at any commercial farms, people should remain vigilant and get their birds vaccinated again for bird flu.

The statement, however, clarified that the poultry eggs and meat were safe to eat.