ISLAMABAD, Feb 1 (KUNA) -- Authorities Friday confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu, virus at a poultry farm of Southern Karachi port city.
The National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Islamabad has found samples to be H5N1 positive, Dr. Ali Akbar Soomro, Director Poultry Research Institute, told newsmen.
Fears of bird flu were renewed after Unique Poultry Farm in Gadap Town of Karachi reported more than 80 percent of its birds dead at a 5,500-strong farm.
This was about the same time that 5,000 birds were culled in India.
Dr. Habib Soomro said that because Pakistan shares borders with India, there was a serious threat of virus migration.
This is the first outbreak of H5N1 strain of avian influenza since January. The virus first appeared in early 2006, but no human cases were reported. (end) amn.ema KUNA 011305 Feb 08NNNN