Bird Flu - 2007
The great fear, that bird flu can cause human to human transmission is already likely, according to the WHO. An extended family of seven people recently died of bird flu in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. The transmission was apparently not sustainable and occurred only during close, prolonged contact. “We believe that the threat is every bit as real now as it was two or three years ago.” (Dick Thompson, WHO spokesman, USINFO, 17/1/07). Asia is on alert again following a recent spate of animal and human bird flu cases in a number of countries. Sixty one of the 161 confirmed deaths from bird flu worldwide since 2003 have occurred in Indonesia. Almost all of these individuals contracted the virus directly from exposure to poultry or poultry droppings. “The Husbandry and Fishery Agency of Jakarta now gives owners of chickens, ducks, swans, pigeons and quails, two weeks to consume, sell or simply destroy these fowl from residential areas” ( http://www.thejakartapost.com/ , 18/1/07...