�Low strain� Bird Flu found in TT

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Saturday, August 19 2006

THE
AGRICULTURE Ministry yesterday announced that a �low pathogenic strain�
of Avian Influenza (AI) has been detected at a farm in Central
Trinidad. The Ministry said it should not be confused with the H5N1
strain of AI which is responsible for deaths in Asia and Western
Europe. 
The Ministry said the low pathogenic strain of AI (LPAI) �does not pose a significant threat to human beings.�

In a release issued after 5 pm yesterday, the Ministry said the
strain was discovered during routine surveillance for the presence of
the H5N1 strain of AI.

It said LPAI is found in birds populations throughout the world and
its occurrence in TT �is not surprising.� The disease does not have
severe symptoms which is why it is deemed a low pathogen.

�It does have some agricultural significance as it may cause deaths
in poultry, although the impact on the country�s poultry industry is
expected to be negligible,� the release stated.

Samples have been sent to the United Kingdom for verification and
the Ministry said measures are being implemented to contain the spread
of the disease.

The Ministry is taking a �positive� view of the identification of
LPAI saying it provided proof that measures implemented to detect Bird
Flu were effective. No information was available regarding culling of
birds at the farm, which was not identified.

Bird deaths at a farm in Cumuto earlier this year caused chicken
sales to plummet across the country as people feared contracting H5N1.
The deaths were linked to aspergillosis � a fungal infection, and
thousands of birds had to be culled at Cumuto. 

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: �Low strain� Bird Flu found in TT Posted: August 19 2006 at 2:19pm
	Saturday, August 19 2006 THE AGRICULTURE Ministry yesterday announced that a �low pathogenic strain� of Avian Influenza (AI) has been detected at a farm in Central Trinidad. The Ministry said it should not be confused with the H5N1 strain of AI which is responsible for deaths in Asia and Western Europe. The Ministry said the low pathogenic strain of AI (LPAI) �does not pose a significant threat to human beings.� In a release issued after 5 pm yesterday, the Ministry said the strain was discovered during routine surveillance for the presence of the H5N1 strain of AI. It said LPAI is found in birds populations throughout the world and its occurrence in TT �is not surprising.� The disease does not have severe symptoms which is why it is deemed a low pathogen. �It does have some agricultural significance as it may cause deaths in poultry, although the impact on the country�s poultry industry is expected to be negligible,� the release stated. Samples have been sent to the United Kingdom for verification and the Ministry said measures are being implemented to contain the spread of the disease. The Ministry is taking a �positive� view of the identification of LPAI saying it provided proof that measures implemented to detect Bird Flu were effective. No information was available regarding culling of birds at the farm, which was not identified. Bird deaths at a farm in Cumuto earlier this year caused chicken sales to plummet across the country as people feared contracting H5N1. The deaths were linked to aspergillosis � a fungal infection, and thousands of birds had to be culled at Cumuto. function pop(url,w,h) { okno = null; if(window.screen) { aw = screen.availWidth; ah = screen.availHeight; } else { aw=640; ah=480; } dane="width="+w+",height="+h+",left=" +(aw-w)/2+",top=" +(ah-h)/2 +",toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no," +"status=no,menubar=no," +"scrollbars=yes,resizable=no"; okno=window.open(url,'pop',dane); } http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,42766.html