Source: Daily Times
The dreaded H5N1 virus has been confirmed in a third poultry farm in Pakistan.
Even though this story will be pushed out of the news, the spreading threat is still very real.
ISLAMABAD: The H5N1 bird flu virus has been confirmed at another poultry farm, said Dr Muhammad Afzal, the director of department of food and livestock, on Sunday.
He said that around 3,000 chickens were culled in a poultry farm in Sihala, near Islamabad, after they were found infected with bird flu. Poultry meat from Sihala is supplied to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Afzal said the National Agriculture Research Council had tested bird samples and found they were infected with the H5N1 strain. The virus was detected among the fowls on April 15, he said. No poultry worker or any other person had been infected with the virus, he added.
There's good news for Pakistan though right now: there has been no reported human cases of the disease yet.
Worldwide, 194 people have become infected with 109 dying.
Medical experts said that anyone developing a fever, muscular aches and severe respiratory problems should report immediately to health professionals. They have also advised poultry workers to wash their hands thoroughly after work and anyone handling poultry should wear masks and gloves.
Pakistan has had no human cases of the disease. The virus has spread across Asia, into parts of the Middle East, Africa and Europe since 2003. Scientists fear the virus could mutate into a form that jumps easily between people and starts a global flu pandemic.
While only 194 people have been infected worldwide, about 109 have died. However, scientists say millions of people could be infected in a human pandemic but with a much lower mortality rate.
No matter how much people and the press ignore or deny this, it's a black cloud over the world that's not just going away.
I hope people are prepared when they need it the most.
Tags: [avian flu], [H5N1 virus], [bird flu], [another poultry farm in Pakistan affected], [bird flu is still spreading]
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