Kuwait confirms 5 more bird flu cases in chickens
Pastor Dale Morgan
Kuwait confirms 5 more bird flu cases in chickens*
01 Apr 2007 15:08:59 GMT
Source: Reuters
KUWAIT, April 1 (Reuters) - Kuwait confirmed on Sunday five more cases
in chickens of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, bringing to 101 the
total number of infected birds in the Gulf Arab country this year.
The new cases were chickens from a fourth farm in the southern region of
Wafra where most of the bird flu infections have been found, said Health
Ministry official Ahmed al-Shatti.
He said no human infections were found after more than 500 people who
had been in contact with the birds had been tested.
Kuwaiti authorities have culled some 1.5 million birds out of which 1.1
million were at three farms in Wafra near the Saudi border, representing
almost 60 percent of the country's egg hens.
The measures are hitting Kuwait's egg production since the culled 1.1
million layers account for 88 percent of local egg needs, according to
the agricultural and fish resources authority. Kuwait has 16 broiler and
layer farms.
The government has pledged to compensate farmers and bird owners for the
culling, with local daily al-Seyassah saying 15 million dinars ($51.81
million) will be paid in total.
The country has closed down the zoo and poultry shops in residential
areas, and banned the import of live birds.
In 2005, Kuwait had reported a case of bird flu in a flamingo in 2005.