Bird flu in West Bank prompts turkey cull

Test samples collected in the West Bank and sent to Israel revealed a case of bird flu in a turkey coop near the West Bank city of Jenin, as Israeli Agriculture Ministry officials continued on Tuesday with a project to cull 100,000 birds at an coop in Israel because of the virus.

The ministry noted that the Jenin incident of avian flu, which can be deadly to humans, was found at a location that is not near Israeli territory and that there are no Israeli communities within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the coop, the Hebrew media NRG website reported.

Israeli officials, working closely with their counterparts in the Palestinian Authority, have instructed them in how to deal with the case, which requires destroying all of the 5,000 birds in the coop as well as treating others located within a three-kilometer (1.8 miles) radius.

Officials hope they can stem the spread of the disease by killing the birds.

Security at crossing points between the West Bank and Israel has been tightened to prevent any potentially infected bird stock from entering Israel.

In addition all coops within 10 kilometers are being closely monitored. The IDF’s Civil Administration, which coordinates activities in the West Bank, said that it arranged the transfer of 50 special protection suits to be worn when dealing with infected birds. In addition, Israel may also transfer to the PA stocks of the Tamiflu medication to prevent flu infections, including bird flu, the report said.

The developments in the West Bank came as the Agriculture Ministry continued with the destruction of 100,000 turkeys at a coop in the Israeli community of Moshav Aviel, near Pardess Hannah in north-central Israel.

Tests revealed an infected bird in the agricultural community over the weekend and the ministry immediately made the decision to kill the entire stock, a move it said was in line with standard procedures in Western countries. Although the infected coop was in an isolated location officials carried out additional tests at other coops within three kilometers of the site, and there are at least two coops known to fall within that range, the Hebrew media Ynet website reported. The ministry is likely to destroy those birds as well, as a precaution.

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Aviel is about 30 kilometers from Jenin.

The ministry said the birds are poisoned using a special foam that quickly kills them, and then they are to be buried at the site.

Officials added that they are unsure how the virus reached the coop.

In 2006, southern Israel’s poultry industry was brought nearly to the brink of collapse, growers said, after a number of culls following the discovery of bird flu.

The H5N1 virus, as this strain of avian flu is officially known, can be deadly if transferred to humans. It has lead to the deaths of millions of birds in Europe and Asia as health officials attempt to contain the virus.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.