February 26, 2007

Pakistan raises alert over rash of bird flu cases

Several states in Pakistan have been alerted following the outbreaks of the H5N1 bird flu in the country and there are now concerns that it may spread across to India.

The virus has recently killed chickens and peacocks in north-western regions and turkeys in the capital, Islamabad.

According to David Nabarro, Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, this season's wave of avian flu, unlike that of last season, is believed to be passed on through the poultry trade rather than migration of wild birds.

The migrations into India have ended and thus wild birds as a source of the virus has been virtually eliminated. As poultry in India is cheaper than in neighbouring countries, the spread of the disease through smuggling was unlikely. However, even earth-bound birds like the peacock may spread the virus through land migration, Nabarro added.