FAO warns of spreading of avian flu in Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today about the spread of the avian influenza virus H5N1, highly contagious to poultry and humans, and which presence in six African countries was confirmed. The FAO pointed out the virus causes high mortality in poultry and also can infect and cause death in humans.  The Deputy Regional Representative of FAO for Africa, Abebe Haile Gabriel, explained that it is a disease that spreads rapidly with devastating effects on livelihoods in communities.  Cameroon is the last country where the avian flu was detected, with outbreaks that generated great concern because of the possibility of a shift of the virus to the south, as it is the first time it is spotted since 2006, the FAO said. Read More