SPREAD OF BIRD FLU THROUGH NIGERIA MIGHT BE WORSE THAN FIRST ESTIMATED

FARMERS WHO HAVE NO OTHER SOURCE OF FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES TOLD TO DESTROY POULTRY

How bad would the spread of bird flu through a massive, and massively poor country like Nigeria truly be? Incomprehensible, devastating, unstoppable.

The World Health Organisation has sent teams into Nigeria to assess the situation on the ground and are finding it far worse than originally expected. First look ins suggested only a few farms had been infected with avian influenza. But thousands of birds have now died and tens of thousands of birds have been slaughtered, in the face or staunch protest from people barely able to feed themselves and their families with the poultry they raised.

As in the poorest regions of Asia, for millions of Nigerians chickens and ducks and products derived from these birds make up the majority of their daily diet.

New estimates suggest as much as one quarter of the entire country could be infested with avian influenza-riddled wild birds and poultry.

At least one family is under quarantine observation, but it is virtually impossible to determine just how many people might be suffereing from infections and symptoms. There are also severe shortages of such basics as face masks and latex gloves.

Hundred sof people can be seen in photos from Nigera, standing around pits, while bulldozers drive huge piles of dead ostriches and chickens into the holes. Nobody wears a fast mask in the crowd, and yet the dust and feathers of the birds swirl around their heads.

Go here for a more detailed story on the Nigerian outbreak.