Israeli and Palestinian veterinary and agriculture officials met at the Erez crossing in Gaza on Wednesday evening to discuss ways of combating bird flu.
The disease has been detected in several areas in southern Israel over the past week and initial tests indicate that the deadly H5N1 strain has also spread to the Gaza Strip. Final and official results of birds examined in Israeli laboratories will be given to the Palestinians on Friday.
Officials from the Israeli Agricultural Ministry have authorized the transfer of 100 protection suits and other equipment to Gaza in order to deal with infected birds, as well as offering guidance to the Palestinians in confronting a possible outbreak.
A Palestinian national council for monitoring bird flu has instructed residents to adhere to instructions and minimize chances of contracting the disease. There have been no reports of the disease in humans in either Israel or the Palestinian territories.
The European Commission announced on Wednesday it is allocating $12 million to combat bird flu in the MEDA region (this region includes Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and possibly Turkey). The money will be channeled through a multi-donor trust fund and administered by the World Bank in order to combat the disease and prepare for a possible human influenza pandemic.
As well as in the south of Israel, the disease has also been detected in the Jordan Valley where the regional veterinarian received reports of dozens of dead turkeys in a poultry coup holding some 20,000 birds.
Jordanian Agriculture Minister Dr. Akif A-Zu’bi said Jordan has taken all the necessary measures to combat bird flu and assured that so far Jordan is protected against the disease, the Jordanian A-Dustour reported.