Two New Bird Flu Cases Emerge In Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AHN) - Saudi Arabia's agriculture ministry on Wednesday said two new cases of avian influenza were detected at separate egg production facilities in the capital Riyadh.

The Saudi Press Agency quoted the ministry as saying that the H5N1 outbreaks occurred at the Thadiq and Kharj governorates.

The agriculture ministry, together with the interior ministry, hospitals and local governments in the affected region, killed all birds at the two sites. The facilities were also cleaned before these were closed down.

The ministry ordered poultry breeders and producers from the two facilities to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease by making sure that migrating birds don't enter sheds, storage of fodder or drinking and cooling water.

Owners of poultry farms and residents are urged to report suspicious cases through a toll-free hotline or to the nearest branch of the agriculture ministry.

Some 50,000 birds were also culled from the same areas early this month due to similar bird flu outbreaks.