Bird flu hits Gaza
Officials in the Palestinian Authority Agriculture department reported on Wednesday that birds, in chicken coop near the community of Ein HaShlosha, have been infected with the bird flu virus.
PA agriculture officials have turned over some of the carcasses of the dead birds to Israel, working via the IDF district coordinating office. Lab tests will be conducted to confirm the presence of the disease in Gaza.
In the meantime, some 1 million birds will have been destroyed and buried throughout Israel by week end, with health officials hoping this will bring the current epidemic to an end.
Consumers are beginning to express concern, with doubts being placed on the integrity of poultry and eggs, staples for the upcoming Passover holiday which begins in three weeks.
This newest avian flu outbreak is assumed to be part of the outbreak that hit Israel early last week.