H5N1 Confirmed in Egypt

WASHINGTON - Feb 17/06 - SNS -- There is now concern over the impact the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza will have on Egypt's ppiultry industry, following its discovery in 18 to 20 birds in Giza which died from some form of bird flu.

The disease was traced back to a farm in southern Egypt. The farmer had taken an infected turkey to market in the Cairo region.

Egyptians rely on poultry for food, with many people keeping live birds gardens and rooftop coops.

Officials at the FAO are also worried the H5N1 strain is spreading to West Africa following last week's discovery of the virus in Nigeria. The effects on a region already facing severe malnutrition would be devastating, the UN agency warned.

The country of greatest concern is Niger, which directly borders the affected areas in Nigeria and where over two million people are already vulnerable to acute hunger.

"The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus poses a very serious threat to animal health in West Africa. If a poultry epidemic should develop beyond the boundaries of Nigeria the effects would be disastrous for the livelihoods and the food security of millions of people," FAO officials warned.

Since the first reports of H5N1 outbreaks in Asia at the end of 2003 nearly 200 million domestic poultry have died or been culled in order to contain its spread. The economic loss to the economy of affected Asian countries has been estimated around US$10 billion.