April 17, 2006

Palestine contains bird flu outbreak in Gaza 

Palestinian health workers have contained an outbreak of bird flu in the Gaza Strip after culling more than 360,000 birds exposed to the virus, Gaza Governor Mohammed al-Kidwa said Sunday (Apr 16).

The flu was detected in Gaza near the border with Israel Mar 22 and spread to five farming locations.

UN officials have warned that the virus could deal a severe blow to Gaza's shaky economy. Poultry is a primary source of protein for Palestinians in Gaza, and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers depend on the birds.

Bird flu was discovered in Israel days before it spread to Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of birds have been killed in Israel. There have been no confirmed outbreaks in the West Bank.

Israeli and Palestinian officials have cooperated to contain the flu, with Israeli health authorities running diagnostic tests on birds from Gaza and providing Gaza with poison for culling exposed birds.