Bird Flu in More Provinces

Avian influenza has spread to five more provinces in the country after being reported in several bird farms in Tehran two weeks ago. The highly pathogenic H5N8 strain has been detected in Qom, Markazi, East Azarbaijan, Kermanshah, and Mazandaran provinces, news outlets reported on Wednesday. The Iran Veterinary Organization said it its latest statement that all tainted areas have been identified and disinfected, and infected birds were culled at the earliest. It has also urged all poultry farms to be extra cautious about safety regulations. The organization has banned hunting of all kinds of wild birds as the migrating birds could be carriers of the virus.