Disease

Global Bird Flu Epizootic Emerging

Record outbreaks of bird flu in 35 countries around the world since early last year have killed tens of millions of poultry, or forced farmers to cull the birds.

In Iowa alone, 40 percent of all egg-laying hens, or about 25 million birds, are dead or will soon be euthanised.

A total of 33.5 million chickens, turkeys and ducks have faced similar fates nationwide since last December, mainly from the H5N2 strain of avian influenza.

While the virus has yet to infect humans, a global epidemic of the H5N1 strain in 2004 led to several cases in people, half of which proved fatal.

The H5N8 strain first appeared in the Korean Peninsula and China early last year. It has since spread to Egypt, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Infected birds were later discovered in West Africa and North America.

Health and agriculture officials fear the virus could be picked up by migratory wild birds and spread even farther.

Culled poultry being thrown on a bonfire during a previous outbreak of avian influenza in Hong Kong.