RIYADH, 2 December 2007 — More than four million birds have been culled in the Kingdom since avian flu was first detected on Nov. 12 in 1,500 birds at a farm in Al-Kharj, said Agriculture Minister Dr. Fahd Balghunaim.
Speaking at a press conference at the Agriculture Ministry yesterday, Balghunaim said that a total of 4,290,975 birds had been culled. “Culling is the most effective method of controlling the spread of the disease,” he said, adding that as a precautionary measure birds found within a five kilometer radius of the infected farm have been destroyed.
Poultry at 11 farms have been culled, including the pigeon market in Riyadh and egg farms in Al-Kharj, Durma, Muzzamiyah, Sahaba, Al-Niyya and Thadiq.
“We are honest in portraying the correct picture of the present situation since we need the cooperation of the general public,” Balghunaim said. “With the complete cooperation of the general public, we are confident that we will be able to completely eradicate bird flu from the Kingdom,” he said.
In March, bird flu was found in peacocks, turkeys, ostriches and parrots at a house in the east of the Kingdom. The discovery led to the culling of an unspecified number of birds in the area.
Answering a question from Arab News, the minister said culling had not created a problem in meeting the demands for poultry and related products. “We have enough stock for local consumption since we have totally stopped our exports,” he said.
The minister explained that the infection had affected only egg-laying chickens and not young chickens. “Although it is a deadly infection, H5N1 is a vulnerable virus, which can be easily washed away even with soap,” he said.
Balghunaim said cooking poultry properly at temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius kills the virus. Unless a person comes into direct contact with an infected bird, there is no chance of catching the disease.
As a preventive measure, Balghunaim noted that a royal decree has been issued banning hunting of migratory birds and the closure of all live poultry shops in the capital. “This has helped a great deal in controlling the disease,” he said.
According to Balghunaim, there is no cause for panic since the government is monitoring the whole situation under the supervision of a national emergency team comprising officials from Riyadh police, the Riyadh municipality, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development.
“All poultry farms in the Kingdom are under a 24-hour surveillance and it is up to the members of the public to cooperate with the inspection team in carrying out its duties,” he said, adding that the Agriculture Ministry had issued specific instructions to be followed by all poultry farmers in the wake of the current crisis.
The ministry has opened a Toll Free No. 800-247-0000 for the public to inform the ministry of any developments vis-a-vis bird flu.
