Dead birds raise avian flu fears in Somalia
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Dead birds raise avian flu fears in Somalia*
22 Nov 2006 14:19:33 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Ibrahim Mohamed
JOWHAR, Somalia, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Dozens of dead birds in a flood
ravaged village in Somalia have raised fears of an avian flu outbreak in
a country with limited health facilities, officials said on Wednesday.
The carcasses of the dead birds, which were thought to be ducks, were
found in Elbaraf, 55 km (34 miles) north of the town of Jowhar, local
veterinarian Ali Hamud told Reuters.
"We burnt 51 carcasses," Hamud said.
Scientists have suggested that migratory birds play an important role in
the spread of the deadly H5N1 flu virus, which originated in Asia and
has killed more than 150 people worldwide so far.
Hamud said most of the birds found had tags around their feet and necks
indicating they had been come via the "Orient Institute" in Zagreb, Croatia.
Somalia is already battling floods that have submerged villages and
farmland and washed away bridges and food stocks.
"We don't have the capacity to test the birds here for bird flu or other
diseases. Floods are already ravaging villages here and the last thing
we want is an epidemic," Hamud said.
Resident Nur Jimale said the birds were spotted 10 days ago in flocks of
hundreds.
"We fear the unusual birds have brought diseases with them. I just saw
their carcasses lying everywhere yesterday. I have never seen such birds
in Somalia," he said.
Already one of the poorest countries in Africa, Somalia has lost tens of
thousands of people to conflict and famine since 1991.