Avian Flu Spreads

During the Norouz holidays (March 20-April 2) different strains of avian influenza viruses were detected in 53 regions across the country. “The diseases were brought under control in the regions, infected birds were culled and 372 people working in industrial chicken farms and rural farms were vaccinated against the virus,” said Mohammad Mahdi Guya, head of the Health Ministry’s Center for Infectious Diseases on Friday, Khabaronline reported.  On March 13, the board of directors at Tehran’s Union of Producers of Egg-Laying Chicken said avian influenza had spread across the country and 24 provinces were affected.