Qinghai H5N1 Suspected in Tehran Iran
Recombinomics Commentary
March 7, 2007
Suspicious poultry deaths have been reported in Tehran’s Pardisan Park, purportedly attributed to an outbreak of avian flu, ISNA reported.
Vahid Norouzi urged the denizens to stay away from the park until the results of laboratory examinations on carcasses of 24 saker falcons, one kestrel and a number of owls are revealed.
The Veterinary Organization took samples from the perished poultry during Feb. 23-March 1.
One of the dead birds has so far tested positive for avian flu.
The above comments strongly suggest Qinghai H5N1 has been detected in Tehran, Iran. These results are not unexpected. Adjacent Kuwait has been reporting H5N1 positive birds for the past few weeks, including falcons. Birds of prey are particularly susceptible to H5N1 infections, as migratory birds spread H5N1 to resident birds and carnivores. Kuwait has reported over fifty positive birds throughout the country, as has Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
It is likely that H5N1 infections are throughout the Middle East, although surveillance and reporting remains scandalously poor.
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