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H5N1 Bird Flu Alert Declared in Iraq
Recombinomics Commentary
February 15, 2006
"I have seen five centers where infections have been detected by rapid laboratory testing. Now we have declared a state of health alert." Maysan includes some of Iraq's famous marshlands, and U.S. and U.N. officials fear the deadly disease could spread rapidly if it reaches the area rich in bird life.
The above comments on the bird flu alert declared by Iraq are cause for concern. The alert is in the same region where H5N1 pigeons were identified. The pigeons were linked to the death of a pigeon trader and hospitalization of five relatives. Although Iraq claims that he is negative for bird flu, the H5N1 positive pigeons and alert of the area are causes for concern
The alert is southeast of Baghdad, but concerns about birds falling from the sky north of Baghdad in Sammara, as well as the first confirmed case in northern Iraq suggest H5N1 has spread throughout the country.
H5N1 in neighbors to such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran (see map) also indicate H5N1 has spread throughout the region.
In Iraq one case has been confirmed and results from relatives have been delayed. The number of human cases in Iraq is unknown, but the spread of H5N1 in birds and the high number of suspect cases remain causes for concern.
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