Saudi Gazette runs two articles on the rapid spread of bird flu in Saudi Arabia and government efforts to contain it. The stories report that it is primarily egg producers who are feeling the economic brunt of the disease. I suspect there is great concern that the spreading be stopped before the start of Hajj on Dec. 18.

Bird Flu Spreads
Shahid Ali Khan

RIYADH – Minister of Agriculture Dr. Fahd Balghunaim sent out an appeal Saturday for cooperation by all sections of society as the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu is “spreading fast” in the Central Province.

So far no human deaths have been reported since the latest outbreak of avian flu was reported two weeks ago in the Central Province.

Dr. Balghunaim told a press conference here Saturday that around 4.3 million birds have been culled since the outbreak, in an attempt to prevent the spread of avian influenza to other parts of the Kingdom – especially since the Haj season is on in the Western Province with thousands of foreign pilgrims entering the country by the day.

“The bird flu is fast spreading and we need cooperation from all sectors of the society including the poultry farm owners, the ordinary Saudi citizens and expatriates,” Dr. Balghunaim said.
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Egg Farms Worst hit by H5N1 Virus
Shahid Ali Khan

RIYADH – The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus that is fast spreading in the Central Province has so far hit mainly egg-farms, said Dr. Ziad Al-Julaifi, director general of the Animal Resource Department at the Agriculture Ministry.

Very few broiler farms reported the disease, he said at a press conference here Saturday along with Muhammad Bin Abdullah, Undersecretary for Animal Husbandry at the ministry and Dr. Fahd Balghunaim, Minister of Agriculture.

… The H5NI virus – that has so far not spread to humans in the Kingdom – has the potential to spread quickly and hence, the officials stressed, it is important to be prompt and forthright with information about the disease so that infected birds may be culled at once to contain the disease.

Dr. Al-Afalaq said poultry farm owners, traders and the public in general should take strict bio-security measures.

These include culling of birds where the infection is detected, sanitizing the area and restricting movement of live birds.

Even vehicles entering and leaving poultry farms, should be disinfected, he said.

“The Agriculture Ministry is monitoring the situation and ensuring that poultry-farm owners are applying bio-security measures very strictly.”
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