March 17, 2006

Bird flu hits Israel for the first time
 

Israel has confirmed its first bird flu outbreak following preliminary tests on samples from a southern farm, where hundreds of poultry died. 

The agriculture ministry said that while initial results revealed that H5 bird flu was present, further tests were required to determine whether the deadly H5N1 strain was responsible for the outbreak.

The affected Ein Hashlosha farm in the Negev desert east of the Gaza border, along with nearby areas, has been quarantined.