Saudi Arabia reports lethal bird flu found in poultry farm

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Strange .... the broilers looks like swans.

Is that a archive picture from anywhere else??

That's prolly an archive photo like you say (I'd guess from last year's outbreak in Germany).

After "reading" Arabic-speaking newspapers for over a year now, I've come to learn that they use archive photos much, much more than the Western press does -- the photos used are usually there just to give one an indication of what the story is, in general, about (bird flu) and not so very often used to add info to the story at hand (the culling at this particular farm). Problem is that they don't usually acknowledge that the photos are stock photos or whatever.

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Workers in Al-Kharj Test Negative for Bird Flu
Arab News</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>RIYADH, 16 November 2007 ? Poultry workers, who recently came into contact with birds carrying the bird flu virus in Al-Kharj, 150 kilometers south of Riyadh, tested negative to the virus, the Ministry of Health recently announced in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

The ministry also added that all of the 50,000 birds at the farm were culled and that the measures were taken after the death of 1,500 birds at the farm caused by the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also investigating the source of the disease and has taken steps to guarantee that the disease does not affect other farms in the area.

The ministry has also called upon poultry farmers to strictly implement safety regulations. The Kingdom had banned all live poultry imports after bird flu was last detected in at a farm in the Eastern Province.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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Nothing new here, but here's a report from a Saudi (Riyadh) paper.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Had a plan of preventive and curative
Health: No casualties among the contacts of birds so far
Nov 16, 2007

"Island" - Ahmad Karni

The Ministry of Health announced that all workers contacts of infected birds were the results of laboratory and clinical messages negative for avian influenza virus high intensity H5N1, and therefore did not record any human casualties and the ministry had a plan of remedial and preventive works which in the case of registration of mankind - God forbid -.

It is worth mentioning that there is a national inter-governmental agencies with combating disease avian influenza (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs), note that the avian influenza virus H5N1 affects mainly birds and poultry, has rarely turns to man through direct contact.

This confirms that the control and prevention of the disease is based on prevention in birds and poultry and traveling from one to another has yet to happen.

http://www.al-jazirah.com/156872/fr3d.htm

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Apparently, there were 5 farm workers involved in culling that were hospitalized (as a precautionary measure) and tested -- 3 had fevers. They've all reportedly tested negative. This is from another Riyadh-based paper.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Suspect injured 5 workers Avian in Al-Kharj
Health: No injuries Avian contacts so far between
Nov 16, 2007

Riyadh: Mohammed Alawage

Dr. Khalid Bin Muhammad Marglani yesterday told of the "Al-Watan" of the existence of cases of suspected bird flu casualty illness l 5 cleaners King Khaled Hospital Bakherj.

The workers suspected virus participated in the execution of poultry infected with Avian which were destroyed yesterday, Al-Kharj Governorate.

Introduced three of them on the impact of symptoms including high temperature to 38 Conference remark while two remained in the hospital Hypnotizing.

Between Marglani that specialist medical team has taken samples of them to conduct the analysis of the expected emergence of the results today, Friday.

He pointed out that the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad obstacles in ending the secrecy laboratory procedures to verify whether or not the injury.

He noted that he was isolated from the rest of the five cases of patients for fear of transmission in the event of proven injury Pfiros bird flu.

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday that, according to the results of laboratory tests and clinical contacts for all workers infected with bird flu virus influenza, which was destroyed in Al-Kharj, were negative for avian influenza virus high intensity (H5N1), and therefore did not record any human casualties.

The Ministry issued a press release yesterday confirmed that the plan had remedial and preventive works which in the case of registration of mankind, God forbid.

For his part, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Khalid Bin Muhammad Almarglani that the Ministry of Health has not recorded any cases of avian influenza disease so far, pointing out that his ministry had prepared a preventive plan to confront the disease when found God forbid entry to the Kingdom, in collaboration with the Ministries of the common agriculture and trade.

He said Almarglani told of the "Al-Watan" that the Saudi authorities had responded early with the international campaign, which called it the World Health Organization to combat the bird flu, and stressed primarily on the preventive side, which secured the quantities preventive drug Tamvelo [Tamiflu].

He said: But the issue in general and not confined only to the efforts of the Ministry of Health.

There are others involved in this responsibility and we can not all these efforts isolation from the cooperation of the citizen and resident, and thus the resistance may seem virtually impossible, unless they are within a comprehensive framework of cooperation involving all sectors of health and non-health.

He pointed out that there were a number of actions taken by the ministry including control of the epidemiological situation in birds, as well as rights globally, through the World Health Organization in the Internet and the Center for Disease Control, United States of America, in addition to coordination with the relevant ministries Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture through the Commission food safety, as well as the Commission diseases members include the ministries of health, agriculture, and Municipal and Rural Affairs in coordination with each other on preventive measures being taken to prevent and hospitality of common diseases such as avian influenza toward disease, and the Ministry of Health, Saudi circular to all areas of health bulletin scientific included an overview of the disease and the ways of transmission and how to prevent it to be distributed to doctors in hospitals and health centers, and monitor the epidemiological situation and following up the latest update of the disease I. Powell.

He added that the adoption of additional measures by the ministries of agriculture, trade and industry, including preventing the import of ducks or chickens from countries where the disease appeared, in addition to preventing the importation of meat refrigerated or frozen birds of the States in which the disease.

Elsewhere detect Spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Khalid Bin Muhammad Marglani yesterday told of the "Al-Watan" of the existence of cases of suspected bird flu casualty illness l 5 cleaners King Khaled Hospital Bakherj.

The workers suspected virus participated in the execution of poultry infected with Avian which were destroyed yesterday, Al-Kharj Governorate.

Enter the following symptoms, including high temperature to 38 to a room remark while two of them remained in hospital Hypnotizing.

Between Marglani that specialist medical team has taken samples of them to conduct the analysis, which are expected today, Friday, the emergence of the results.

He pointed out that the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad obstacles in ending the secrecy laboratory procedures to verify whether or not the injury.

He Almarglani that five cases were isolated from the rest of patients for fear of transmission in the event of proven infected with avian influenza.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2604&id=29185

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Suspicious poultry deaths in/around Baljurashi city in Al Bahah Province -- a different province from the other outbreaks (which are near Riyadh). No test results yet.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Death of 100 chickens Governorate Balijrchi in two days
Nov 16, 2007

Courtyard: Mohammad Al result

Struck did not specify the illness after chickens one citizen from the people of the village and Mahalih Jabr of the province Balijrchi, Balbaha and led to the death of 22 chickens in a couple of days and immediately notify the Branch Agriculture governorate, where the chicken was very Hospital could not move.

The doctor veterinary examination chicken and sampling it.

Some citizens and a number of cases in some villages of the province reached 100 chickens.

He called on citizens to increase interest and support teams to intensify veterinarian by the Ministry of Agriculture.

For his part, assured the general manager Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture Balbaha Mohamed Aldemaq population and the owners of chicken sheds region.

He said that the situation was not serious but it could not benefit from this disease until the results of tests ruled out that this disease is avian influenza.

It is noteworthy that agriculture and agriculture urging citizens and foreign residents to report any suspected case of death or bird through contact with the ministry's operations room phone (014030911) or the nearest branch of the Ministry of Agriculture.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2604&id=29186

[HenryN]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

16/11/2007 20:50</CLASS> RIYADH, Nov 16 (AFP)</CLASS>
Culls in Saudi bird flu outbreak</CLASS>
Saudia Arabia's agriculture ministry confirmed Friday that the entire stock of three poultry farms outside the capital had been culled due to an outbreak of bird flu, the official SPA news agency said.
The ministry said in a statement that all birds in the three farms west and south of Riyadh were culled, but gave no figures.
"It is almost certain that migrant birds are the source of the disease," the ministry said.
On Wednesday, the ministry had announced that 50,000 birds were culled at a poultry farm in Al-Kharj, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Riyadh, after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected there.
But the virus was later detected at two other farms, about 80 kilometres west of the capital.
Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghnaim was quoted as saying earlier Friday that around 90,000 chickens had been lost at the two western farms.
Saudi Arabia banned all live poulty imports after bird flu was last detected in the kingdom in March. In April, neighbouring Kuwait culled 1.7 million birds after the strain was found.
There are no reports of the disease spreading to humans in either country.
The H5N1 strain first emerged in Asia in 2003, and has caused some 205 deaths in humans, with Indonesia and Vietnam among the worst hit countries, according to World Health Organisation figures.

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=071116205049.v393g7tx.php

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11...di_Spread.html

Commentary

H5N1 Spread in Saudi Arabia
Recombinomics Commentary
November 16, 2007

Some 90,000 chicken have died of bird flu at a poultry farm in Muzahmiya City, western Riyadh, according to the Agriculture Ministry on Friday.

The above comments describe another significant H5N1 outbreak in Saudi Arabia. Earlier this week a cull of 50,000 birds in Al-Kharj, which is 150 kms south of Riydh, was announced. Muzahmiya is a southwestern suburb of Riyadh. Both of these outbreaks are significantly larger than the outbreak in March.

These outbreaks may be linked to the recent outbreak in England. The DEFRA website has now added France to the list of outbreaks over the summer that involved wild birds infected with H5N1 closely related to the massive outbreak at Uva Lake in Mongolia in the summer of 2006.

H5N1 closely related to that outbreak was not reported in Europe in late 2006 / early 2007, but that sub-clade was linked to the outbreaks in the past several months in the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Krasnodar, and now England.

Sequence data on the outbreaks in Saudi Arabia would be useful.


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[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Google-translated from Arabic:

The execution of more than 40 thousand bird infected one farm
Disease transmission of avian influenza to the farms for the production of eggs in Dharme and Almzahmia and Alheattm
Nov 17, 2007

RIYADH: WAS

The Ministry of Agriculture said that it further to the statement of the ministry on Wednesday 4/11/1428 e on the emergence of cases of avian influenza with a project for the production of poultry chicken mothers Allahm Al-Kharj Governorate for receiving room of the ministry's bird flu Two owners of the draft for the production of poultry eggs in one Dharme and the other in the region Almzahmia in Riyadh Wednesday evening 4/11/1428 e on the death of a number of birds in these two projects, the Department of Agriculture also received a communication from the governorate of Al-Kharj the project for the production of poultry eggs Alheattm status of the province of Al-Kharj region of Riyadh, on Thursday 5/11/1428 e on the death of a number of bird project, and immediately went veterinary teams affiliated with the Ministry has taken samples of the dead birds in those projects and sent to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Riyadh and the results showed the diagnosis of the samples positive for the avian influenza virus disease of high intensity H5N1 and after testing binder inverse PCR addition to the testing of blood and prevent Tlazn Tlazn blood.

She said that the building was taking all necessary measures and precautions necessary, as the emergency plan for this disease, with the execution of all existing birds and disposal methods used sound technical and clearance of sites, as a comprehensive survey of the area adjacent to the project to make sure there are no other injuries.

The Ministry of Agriculture at the same time that he was informed all the relevant governorates concerned, as regards the presence of the branches of Medical Affairs at the sites mentioned in the action where necessary to ensure the safety of these people contacts birds, as well as inform the municipality, the police and civil defense and those provinces for the support and backing, and the ministry attribute it is almost certainly the source of these infections is the migratory birds.

The ministry said the farmers and poultry producers to intensify the application of preventive measures precautionary preventive security and to take all necessary precautions to ensure the non-arrival of migratory birds into barns or warehouses feed or drinking water or cooling water.

It invited entrepreneurs and citizens and residents to report immediately any case of suspected or death of birds through contact with the ministry's operations room telephone 014030911 or the nearest branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, and recalled the need to adhere to non-hunting migratory birds of all kinds in any way in order to avoid friction and exclusivism effect may be infected.

The Ministry of Agriculture would like to stress that these cases do not represent any danger or harm in the consumption of poultry produced by the poultry projects in the Kingdom, which are always follow-up and control.

The Ministry of Agriculture concluded yesterday, Friday, and until dawn today the execution of infected birds in the affected farms infected with avian influenza by attending directly from the Minister of Agriculture and a number of officials of those areas "Al-Watan" that the farm was detected by the virus severe intensity (farmer Bdharme oasis on the road Nsah) presence during the executions birds infected with Agriculture Minister Fahd Balgnim directly to the penalty himself and the presence of him and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Livestock Muhammad Shihah and a number of officials of the region to oversee the process of death, informed sources indicated that the total poultry destitute hit some 40 thousand bird.

And also aware that the execution of all infected birds on the farm located Governorate other Almzahmia (hope poultry farm) located on the road to Riyadh - Mecca rapid compared Noarh residential scheme on the south and the presence of sites Almzahmia governor, and some medical and municipal and civil defense.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2605&id=29415

[Treyfish]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=8><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Species spared</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle> RIYADH
Saudi bans bird-hunting to combat flu

This year?s hunting season beginning December 20 will not include bird species, according to the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development.
The decision is a measure to combat the spread of avian flu in Saudi Arabia, Arab News reports.
Last week, the Agriculture Ministry confirmed that 50,000 birds were culled from a poultry farm near Riyadh after about 1,500 chickens there reportedly died from the virus.
And last year Crown Prince Sultan had issued a directive banning bird-hunting (often done with predatory falcons) following the death of a woman attributed to avian flu.
The directive said the kingdom was free from H5N1 strain except for ?sporadic incidents?.
The latest decision by the commission is a reminder of the directive as the hunting season approaches.
Under Saudi conservation law, only one mammal species can be legally hunted each season while licence to hunt non-threatened bird species are usually allowed every hunting season.
However, only licences to hunt rabbits will be issued this time. Hunters will not be allowed to use firearms and must hunt rabbits with traps, dogs or falcons.
They are also not allowed to hunt in the 16 protected areas in the Empty Quarter or in places close to urban settlements. Hunters are warned not to target endangered mammal or bird species such as oryx, gazelle, ibex, the Arabian leopard and the ostrich.
To create awareness about the rules and regulations regarding the hunting of threatened species, the commission regularly meets members of the public living around protected areas and teach them values of wildlife conservation.
The commission and the ministries of Agriculture, Municipal and Rural Affairs and Health have been been keeping vigil on H5N1.
Last year Saudi Arabia began shutting down live poultry shops in urban centres as a preventative measure.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://www.bahraintribune.com/ArticleDetail.asp?ArticleId=179456&CategoryId=2

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

BTW Hajj is December 18 to 21.

Hope all goes well.

.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

21 monitored for bird flu

21 people have been put under observation in hospitals across Saudi Arabia after developing symptoms similar to those associated with bird flu, reported the Saudi Gazette. All of the patients have tested negative for the virus thus far but a number were involved in the mass culling of 100,000 birds in various locations in the kingdom after the H5N1 strain was discovered in Al Kharj.

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[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Not clear if this guy is one of the 21 mentioned above ... could be.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Suspected Al-Kharj Hospital utter farm owner
Nov 18, 2007

Riyadh: Mohammed Alawage

King Khaled Hospital received Bakherj yesterday afternoon Bakherj owner of a farm, which emerged by avian influenza virus, and found that he was suffering from high temperature, which reached 40 degrees Celsius, about the medical crew working in the hospital infected with avian influenza affect it, and after the work necessary tests proved failure infection with H5N1.

The medical team has isolated the situation on their arrival to the hospital and was placed in a separate room precautionary fear of transmission to patients Almnomin hospital.

The director general of health affairs in Riyadh, Dr. Hesham Mohammed bin looking for "Al Watan", the medical team conducting the tests and analysis laboratory and found them to men owners of the farms where the Bakherj poultry infected with avian flu virus and announced yesterday.

He confirmed that the suspect Nazirah injury disease laboratory analysis results were negative and gave him treatment and vaccine were needed to assure himself that his injury any viral disease and left the hospital after his condition stabilized.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2606&id=29453

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

222,000 chickens culled in Saudi Arabia.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Burning and burying 222 thousand (222,000) chickens in Almzahmia and Alheattm and Kharg and Dharme to besiege avian influenza
Nov 18, 2007

RIYADH: Tariq Alnofal, Hussein bin Musaad

Increased numbers of poultry infected with Avian dead until yesterday to 222 thousand (222,000) head in the new statistical obtained by the "Al Watan".

A Ministry of Agriculture Undersecretary General for Livestock Mohamed bin Abdullah Shihah that dead chicken herself in Al-Kharj at 50 thousand (50,000) head, Dharme at 40 thousand (40,000) and Almzahmia by 75 thousand (75,000), and finally Alheattm 57 thousand (57,000) head.

He told the "Al Watan"that the dead chickens were incinerated and landfilled by the Professional Sound and the closure of the surrounding farm areas to ensure that the spread of the disease.

He called on citizens not to Shihah concern of the news published in some newspapers, which may have given the topic greater size, saying: "There field teams working day since the discovery of the first case, consisting of veterinary doctors and technicians who specialized survey on the search for suspected cases might be emergency any farm farms surrounding areas discovered.

He pointed out that the difference Shihah the opening dig deep and then put lime rule of dead chickens after the article and then burned lime and then buried an appropriate quantity of soil.

Informed sources said of the "Al Watan" that the farm located in the center Alheattm near Al-Kharj, where the disease emerged, which lies between the most affluent and most luxurious guest houses and farm preservation, and that was almost abandoned in the past and has recently bought one of the citizens.

The source added that the farm activity is the production of chicken and whiting Allahm shopping and poultry products companies in general, and sell some production for the citizens, noting that the farm was trying to develop production recently.

Surrounded escorts and security roads leading to the infected farm in the center Alheattm, and the presence of any banned media from approaching the site or photography.

It also seemed roads leading to the site free of pedestrians except for some farm labor.

The sources criticized the presence of those farms breeding and the production of poultry farms and rested between citizens, as they represent a threat to the surrounding environment as well as the emergence of dangerous epidemic.

In a related development, the Director-General of Agriculture Governorate Ahsa, Al-Saleh Al-Humaimidi, yesterday, a lengthy meeting with the Department of Livestock Directorate, in order to ensure the preservation of the integrity of avian influenza, or a death of birds and poultry in it.

During the meeting was to discuss activating the emergency room to follow up the situation, whereas been identified telephone number to receive reports and complaints which 035879243.

It was also tours on the farm field to ensure the safety of preventive action and to provide doctors and veterinary assistants and provide them release the necessary awareness, in addition to the survey Lakes, a lake and yellow Riashi, to ascertain the presence of bird Navgah and on a tour of the popular markets to ensure the safety of the supply of birds and awareness workers poultry farmer who, immediately after reporting the existence of a severe shortage of farm water and food because that suggests a problem.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2606&id=29450

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Sounds like another large poultry farm -- 3 km from the farm having the first outbreak -- is now involved. Also sounds as though the infection at this new location was picked up during a survey of farms in the area.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Avian flu overlooks the new head of the Al-Kharj
The discovery of new cases of the disease in one of the largest farms produce eggs and executions at dawn today
Nov 18, 2007

RIYADH: Tariq Alnofal

A preventive campaigns survey teams of the Ministry of Agriculture another goal [outbreak] in the poultry farm in the Al-Kharj, security teams began imposing a state of emergency around the infected farm.

Police source said that Al-Kharj province, and explained that the farm (Salman for the production of fresh eggs) lies about 3 km from the farm (future), which referred to as the first headquarters [outbreak] of the discovery of the first case of a formal entry of an avian influenza pandemic Kingdom.

The numbers of ducks [should be "birds"] on the farm source confirmed that it had not yet prepared inventory, but it is expected to exceed the number 100 thousand bird, and also revealed that the task of Agriculture and Health began mobilizing poultry farm in bags in preparation for the destruction and buried by health followed in such cases, adding that the difference preventive BEGIN execution poultry dawn today, Sunday.

The security source that the infected farm is one of the largest farms produce fresh eggs, and the best preventive compliance with the requirements of the safety and health of the farm.

The source said that the Ministry of Agriculture is currently a long series of disclosures at all farms, whether business or individuals to detect any H5N1infections both birds or humans, which was confirmed by a working branch of the Ministry of Agriculture Bakherj since confirmed that the virus heart lifestyle section workers upside down, where staff around the clock, considering they live in extreme readiness to confront H5N1 and response.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2606&id=29589

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Map of these locales:

222,000 chickens culled in Saudi Arabia.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Burning and burying 222 thousand (222,000) chickens in Almzahmia and Alheattm and Kharg and Dharme to besiege avian influenza
Nov 18, 2007

RIYADH: Tariq Alnofal, Hussein bin Musaad

Increased numbers of poultry infected with Avian dead until yesterday to 222 thousand (222,000) head in the new statistical obtained by the "Al Watan".

A Ministry of Agriculture Undersecretary General for Livestock Mohamed bin Abdullah Shihah that dead chicken herself in Al-Kharj at 50 thousand (50,000) head, Dharme at 40 thousand (40,000) and Almzahmia by 75 thousand (75,000), and finally Alheattm 57 thousand (57,000) head.

(...)

[Theresa42]

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

I haven't bothered translating them all, but there are a bunch of articles on Google Arab news today in which other provinces in Saudi Arabia say that they have not found any bf there -- plus several Gulf states have also announced that they are "bf free" including Kuwait, Qatar and Yemen.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=ar&ned=ar_me&q=%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%A7+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1&btnG=%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%AB+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1