June 24, 2008

Bird flu outbreak found in Pakistan poultry farm

Chickens on a farm in Pakistan were detected with H5N1 bird flu virus, according to government officials on Monday (June 23, 2008).
 

The outbreak was confirmed on Saturday (June 21, 2008) at a poultry farm in Swabi town, about 60 km northwest from the capital Islamabad, officials said.

About 4,500 birds on the farm had been culled and the area disinfected, said a senior Agricultural Ministry official.

A Health Ministry official said about 25 people including farm workers and their close contacts have been quarantined.

H5N1 has visited Pakistan several times, mostly in the country's northwest, since it was first detected in early 2006.