LAGOS, Nigeria, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization is concerned the first confirmed case of bird flu in Africa is the tip of the iceberg, and the H5N1 virus is more widespread.
The agency's Dr. David Nabarro told the BBC the virus "might be quite widespread," and the WHO was anticipating further outbreaks in other parts of Africa.
Experts have been sent to the commercial chicken farm in Jaji, in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state, where the bird flu was first found.
Nabarro said reports from Nigeria's Ministry of Agriculture suggested bird flu may also have been found in the northern state of Kano and further south in Jos.
"We've got to have all countries, particularly in West Africa, being very vigilant for bird die-offs, which are the indicator of bird flu being in the population," Nabarro said. "If it's in Nigeria it might also be in other countries that are less well-equipped."
Nearly 80 people, mostly in Asia, have died from contact with affected birds, and scientists fear the virus will mutate to become communicable among humans.
