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H5 Bird Flu Confirmed in Israel
Recombinomics Commentary
March 16, 2006
"I can confirm that preliminary tests showed the poultry died of H5 bird flu but we do not know yet exactly which strain," a ministry official told AFP.
Hundreds of dead poultry were found at the Ein Hashlosha kibbutz in the Negev desert east of the Gaza border and dozens more in nearby communities, prompting the agriculture ministry to seal off the area.
The above comments strongly suggest H5N1 bird flu has been detected in Israel. The number of dead birds indicates the H5 will type as H5N1 and it will be the Qinghai strain.
These results were not unexpected as more countries confirm the H5N1. Thus far no country in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa has detected H5N1 in live wild birds indicating surveillance is lacking. Many countries in Europe detected H5N1 in dead wild birds prior to detecting H5N1 in domestic poultry.
Other countries, like Israel did not report H5N1 until domestic poultry was reported. Additional countries however, continue to deny H5N1 infections.
Surveillance in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is poor in countries reporting.
Countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which are still not reporting H5N1 have no credibility.
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