Friday, February 17, 2006
Avian influenza confirmed in Egypt, France testing for bird flu
On Friday, Egypt’s health Ministry confirmed that the avian influenza virus has been found in 18-20 dead birds that were tested for the virus.
A U.N. official said tests confirmed an outbreak of the deadly H5 strain of avian influenza that has swept out of Southeast Asia into Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Egypt’s health ministry was preparing to declare a state of emergency, the government said.
France’s agriculture ministry said Friday that it found the nation’s “probable” first case of H5 avian influenza virus in a dead wild duck.
The ministry said tests confirmed that the duck found in the southeast Ain region, had the H5 strain of avian influenza and that further tests were being conducted to determine if it was the N1 version (H5).