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Senegal has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a poultry farm, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) announced on Thursday.
The epidemic, which started in the Thiès region east of the capital Dakar, killed 58,000 birds in the herd of 100,000, with the remaining animals being slaughtered, the OIE said, citing a report from the veterinary services of Senegal.
H5N1 – a type of influenza virus – causes a severe and highly infectious respiratory illness in birds known as bird flu or “bird flu”.
Humans can sometimes contract H5N1 avian influenza, but transmission from one infected person to another is difficult. When people are infected, the death rate is around 60%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Infection in humans is primarily associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or environments contaminated with H5N1.
So far, there is no evidence that the disease can be spread to humans through properly prepared and well cooked food.
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