Saturday, April 23, 2016

FAO/EMPRES Confirm H5N1 In Lebanon


















# 11,304


On Thursday, in Lebanon: Minister of Agriculture Reports H5 Bird Flu, we learned of what appears to be the first outbreak of HPAI H5 in Lebanon.   While it seemed likely this was H5N1, today we have confirmation from the FAO.


While the extent of this outbreak is hard to gauge based on Arabic reporting, the Lebanese Television Network reported yesterday:

Following the emergency plan approved by Health Ministry concerning the H5 bird flu virus in cooperation with Agriculture Ministry, the High Relief Commission and the concerned authorities from the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Interior Security Forces, around four thousand infected birds were killed in several farms under experts’ supervision.    

This comes after H5 virus was detected in dozens of farms in the Bekaa town of al-Nabi Sheet.