Thursday, March 23, 2006
Israel helps Gaza cope with H5N1 bird flu
Israel said on Thursday it would supply Palestinian teams with protective gear and professional assistance following an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
The agreement was reached in a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian agriculture and veterinary officials at the Erez Crossing to the Gaza Strip on Wednesday night.
Cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is becoming increasingly rare as the militant Islamist Hamas movement prepares to swear in its government after winning an election in January.
“The agriculture ministry has agreed to supply the Palestinians with protective gear and other equipment as well as advice and instructions on how to deal with the outbreak,” an Israeli official said.
Israel has been testing dead fowl found in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on behalf of the Palestinian Authority for months.
Laboratory tests confirmed an outbreak of the deadly avian virus at a chicken farm in the Gaza Strip and tests were underway to check whether the virus had also infected poultry at a location near the southern Gaza city of Rafah, officials said. Israel has said it would have no formal dealings with a government run by Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction, though government sources have suggested that lower level cooperation between professionals may continue.