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Maximum state of alert in Jordan in face of bird flu

AMMAN, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Jordan has declared a maximum state of alert to avert possible spillover of bird flu infecting poultry and birds in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
The local press, on Saturday, quoted the assistant general secretary for livestock, Dr. Nasser Al-Hawamdeh, as saying, "We have an emergency ward that functions throughout the year but we have raised the state of alert to the highest level and resumed field inspection of samples by dispatching teams of veteranians to birds farms and poultry stores." Authorities have imposed a ban on trade of non-processed livestock from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has reported culling of thousands of birds after reported four outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of the disease that is dangerous to humans. The disease was first detected on a farm in Al-Kharj region, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Riyadh. Later, authorities ordered destruction of 13,500 ostriches at a farm. (end) my.rk KUNA 221209 Dec 07NNNN