Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Gaza Bird Flu Causes Poultry Shortage
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=11AD90D:3919ACA More than 500,000
chickens infected by bird flu in Gaza Strip and half of those have
been culled U.N. experts are warning that Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip could begin suffering from protein shortages because so much
poultry has been culled because of bird flu.







Chickens in a coop in Gaza CityCalling bird flu a problem without a
passport, U.N. officials are warning the threat of the virus remains
extremely serious in the Gaza Strip, where bird flu was first
discovered last month. 

More than 500,000 chickens have been infected by bird flu in the Gaza
Strip and half of those chickens have been culled.  U.N. experts say
efforts are well under way to cull the rest, but as a result
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip could soon develop protein shortages,
because chicken is a primary source of protein for most people living
in the area.

Ambroggio Manenti, the regional head of the World Health Organization
says because the main border crossing point between Israel and the
Gaza Strip is closed for security reasons, there are few other protein
sources for the residents of Gaza.

"The fact is that the poultry product is the primary source of protein
intake in the Gaza Strip," said Manenti.  "The lack of availability of
alternate protein sources, particularly as a result of the recent
closures of the Karni crossing, which has prevented imports, leads to
concerns of nutritional consequences of this outbreak for the
population."

More than one million chickens have been destroyed in Israel since
bird flu was discovered last month.  There are no reported human cases
of the disease in either Israel or the Palestinian territories. 

The threat of bird flu has transcended politics in the region with
Palestinians, Israelis, and international health officials continuing
to work together to contain its spread.


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