February 12, 2007

Pakistan reports H5N1 bird flu in Islamabad

The deadly H5N1 stain of bird flu has been confirmed at a home in Pakistani capital, the third such case in about one week, but the virus has not affected any one in the country, an official said Saturday (Feb 10).

The virus, which badly affected Pakistan's poultry industry last year, was found earlier this week in a chicken flock and peacocks at a home in Islamabad, said Mohammed Afzal, spokesman for Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock statement.

"Laboratory tests conducted on samples from one home in Islamabad confirmed the birds had been infected," he said.

However, Afzal said people shouldn't be panicked over the detection of virus merely at one home, as it had not spread to commercial farms, and that poultry eggs and meat were still safe to eat.