IVORY COAST: First cases of bird flu detented in Ivory Coast

Record ID: 182443

  • Title: IVORY COAST: First cases of bird flu detented in Ivory Coast
  • Date: 27th May 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) N'DRI YAO SAYING: ''In this area we found at least seven dead ducks.We have analised samples and the results were positive''
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA47GPUTNVCJDJM41DHWSXG9NR0
  • Story Text: Ivory Coast has detected its first outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in two populous neighborhoods of its main city Abidjan, making it the sixth African nation to report the feared virus.
    The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday (May 24) 17 infected birds had been found in two separate outbreaks in the Marcory Anoumabo and Treichville suburbs, both heavily-populated working class areas of the lagoon-side city.
    "The animals affected are traditional backyard free-ranging chickens (7 cases) and ducks (9 cases) and one sparrow hawk," the Paris-based organization said in a statement on its Web site.
    Outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu have been confirmed in five other African countries, including Egypt where the World Health Organization says there have been 12 human cases, four of them fatal.
    Health experts fear Africa's poor human and animal health services, large backyard poultry population and lack of resources could make it an easy target for a broader outbreak.
    Scientists are concerned the H5N1 virus that has spread from Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa could mutate into a strain that could spark a human pandemic capable of killing millions of people.
    It has infected 204 people and killed 113 since 2003 but has not shown it is capable of passing easily from person to person.
    Local officials in Abidjan had begun destroying some birds, disinfecting the area and restricting movement there, the OIE said. It said an infected zone would be declared around Marcory Anoumabo and the rest of the city placed under surveillance.
    The government said it planned to make an announcement later on state television, although the evening news bulletin had been pushed back to allow the soccer-mad nation to watch a European Champions League match between AC Milan and Barcelona.
    The OIE said it had received confirmation of the cases on Tuesday from the Ministry of Animal Production and Fish Resources in Abidjan.
    Since the beginning of the year alone, more than 30 new countries have reported bird flu outbreaks.
    Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Egypt and Burkina Faso have already confirmed the virus in Africa, where experts fear weak health systems could be delaying the detection of human cases.
    Sudan has also reported an outbreak of bird flu, although it has not been confirmed as the H5N1 strain.
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