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Iraq Takes
Measures To Prevent Spread Of Bird Flu
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Following
confirmation of the first death from bird flu in Iraq, local health authorities
are taking urgent measures to prevent the disease spreading.
Iraqi officials have cordoned off the home village of the victim, a 15-year-old
girl. They also tightened controls on border-entry points.
The village lies close to the Turkish border.
Four people have died in neighboring Turkey from bird flu, though the outbreak
there appears to have stabilized. Turkish officials say the victims contracted
the illness from close contact with sick birds and not through human-to-human
transmission.
The victim died on 17 January, but Iraqi Health Minister Abd al-Muttalib
Muhammad Ali confirmed bird flu as the cause only on 30 January. As a precaution
a state of emergency was declared on 18 January, with the government also
placing orders for bird-flu vaccine.
Officials in northern Iraq say hospitals in the region are treating 12
patients suspected of having bird flu. A World Health Organization team is
preparing to travel to the area to assist.
Radio Free Europe
Radio Liberty
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