OXFORD, England, April 25 (UPI) -- Bird flu appears to be spreading in south and central Asia, with both Pakistan and Afghanistan reporting an increase of outbreaks in poultry.
Pakistani authorities announced Tuesday that 11 farms around Islamabad had confirmed avian-flu outbreaks, and that test results were pending for a number more.
The Ministry of Agriculture is concerned that despite widespread culls that have so far seen the deaths of some 60,000 birds, the disease appears to be gaining a foothold in the country. All farms around Islamabad and Rawalpindi are being tested for avian influenza, and a vaccination program is under way.
In Afghanistan, avian flu has been reported in a fourth province, sparking United Nations concern that the disease has become endemic in the nation's poultry flocks.
Test results from more than 100 birds sent to Italy earlier this month have been returned and confirmed that Kapisa, to the north of Kabul, has joined Kabul, Logar and Nangarhar on the list of provinces to have been affected thus far.
Meanwhile:
-- Following the discovery that a number of ducks on Bali were infected with avian influenza, Indonesian authorities began a widespread cull of ducks on the island.
Sixteen of a flock of 400 ducks on a Bali farm were found to have been infected with the H5N1 strain of avian flu. The flock has since been culled, and the farm disinfected.
Anak Agung Gde Putra, Bali's senior government veterinarian, explained that the ducks had been smuggled to Bali from the neighboring island of Java after Bali banned the import of live poultry as a result of the bird-flu epidemic in Indonesia.
"We don't want to take any risks because ducks infected with bird flu would spread the disease to other birds," Putra told reporters.
-- The World Bank Monday approved a $34.4 million loan to Turkey to help in its efforts to combat the spread of bird flu.
In January the bank approved a $500 million credit line for countries to use in the fight against pandemic influenza. The Turkish loan falls under the remit of the credit line, and was financed from it.
-- Counter to the restrictions put in place by most governments following news of avian influenza, the Scottish government has announced it is to begin lifting restrictions imposed on the movement of poultry and eggs.
The restrictions were originally put in place in early April, following the discovery of a swan infected with avian influenza. Subsequent tests have shown no further cases in the country, and it was concluded that the swan died before it was able to infect other birds.
If there continue to be no further signs of avian influenza in the country, the Scottish government has indicated that it may lift even more restrictions from May 1.
-- A dead bird found in the north of England is being tested for H5N1 infection.
Alan O'Brien found the bird while walking along the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, near his home. He told the Bolton Evening News: "I just spotted it in the water and it seemed to be in a very odd position, lying on its front with its wings spread out and its head tucked under its body.
"With the recent reports of bird flu, I thought it was something I should report. There's a lot of geese and swans which seem to be nesting on the canal at this time of year."
The bird has been sent to the avian-influenza laboratory in Weybridge, England, for testing, although British veterinary authorities were quick to point out that the bird could have died for a number of reasons, and that the tests were prudent, not a mark of concern.
-- Five Asian nations and Canada have joined forces to combat the spread of avian influenza.
The Asian Research Partnership on Pandemic Influenza, which includes Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, in addition to Canada, will study means of dealing with outbreaks of avian flu and their effectiveness.
Stephen McGurk, IDRC regional director for South-East and East Asia, told SciDev.net: "The five Asian countries joining the partnership have quite different practices for controlling bird flu.
"With this partnership, we can study the impacts of different control measures as well as their costs and risks, to find more satisfactory solutions."
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