AFGHANISTAN: New bird flu cases confirmed

KABUL, 12 March (IRIN) - Thirteen new cases of bird flu have been detected in Afghanistan over the past week, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 17 for this year, health officials said.

"Nine dead birds were diagnosed with the virulent H5N1 strain [of avian influenza] in five districts of [eastern] Nangarhar and Kunar provinces," said Assadullah Azhari, a spokesman for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Kabul.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/ddf0a4bb4d50b410ff195362f6b98638.htm