Shehayyeb: Precautionary Measures Against H5N1 Virus Have been Taken

W460

Lebanon's agriculture ministry took the necessary precautionary measures against the highly pathogenic bird flu virus H5N1 that hit an Israeli poultry farm 37 km from Lebanon's southern border.

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb told LBCI in an interview on Wednesday that “it is crucial to drive the people's attention to report to the ministry or related authorities any danger they sense in their poultry farms or elsewhere.”

The Minister stressed that the migration of birds during the Spring season raises the risk of transferring the disease.

He stressed that “precautionary plans are ready for implementation in case of a break out of the disease.”

Lebanon's defense program against the virus kicked off in 2004 and Shehayyeb stated that the ministry will “reactivate the plan and approve the funds allocated for that purpose during the cabinet session on Thursday.”

Media reports said recently that Israel has reported the first cases of the bird virus in a nearly three years that led to the death of 15000 birds.

The H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus which, transmits more easily between birds and people, has killed more than 400 people worldwide since it first appeared in 2003, most of them in southeast Asia.

D.A.

G.K.

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