YESTERDAY : INDIA REPORTS FIRST POULTRY INFECTED WITH AVIAN INFLUENZA, 50,000 BIRDS FOUND DEAD

TODAY : INDIA ANNOUNCES FIRST HUMAN DEATH FROM AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS

An emergency campaign is unrolling in India to isolate poultry farms and villages that have been exposed to the bird flu virus over the past weeks.

India is the world's second most populous nation.

At least eight people are now under observation after showing symptoms of human infection by the avian influenza virus.

During television news broadcasts screened in Australia, poultry workers in India were shown attempting to bury thousands of culled chickens, but they were no protective gear, not even gloves or a face mask. The workers were shown picking up the dead birds and tossing them into pits.

The Bird Flu virus is now believed to have the ability to survive in poultry and wildbird droppings, remaining highly infectious. The virus may also be able to 'escape' a quarantine zone by travelling in the bird flu droppings that stick to workers boots.

MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF EARLY STAGE HUMAN BIRD FLU INFECTION

Sore throatAching musclesLethargyInfections of the eyes

Breathing problems

Chest pains

EGYPTIAN LEADERS ISSUE CALL FOR CALM AS BIRD FLU PANIC SPREADS

"Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef on Saturday urged the public not to panic, one day after seven chickens were tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the first such case found in Egypt.

'The public should not panic and the government is taking all measures to protect them,' the prime minister said.