Kuwait Times

Published Date: April 05, 2007
By Rania El Gamal

KUWAIT: Preliminary blood tests taken from the four Bangladeshi workers suspected to be infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu were found positive, Jamal Al-Duaij, Director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital told Kuwait Times yesterday. "The initial tests done here in Kuwait came positive. However, according to the regulations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), tests must be confirmed by another certified lab," said Al-Duaij. "The tests have been sent to Cairo, where the laboratories are certified by the WHO, and final results are expected to be received today," he added.

The four Bangladeshi workers who had been culling and burying chicken infected with the deadly bird flu virus in Wafra farms were admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital on Tuesday. "Though the four workers were suspected to be infected with the bird flu virus, there have been no obvious symptoms of the disease," said Al-Duaij. Bird flu symptoms vary from fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue to vomiting. "The Bangladeshi workers took protective doses before handling the infected birds, and that's why they showed no symptoms of the disease. We only knew that they might be infected from the results of the blood samples," he added.

Al-Duaij stated that the four workers are currently quarantined in a special ward in the hospital and are taking "a double-dose of Tamiflu: two tablets twice a day." He also added that Kuwait has enough stocks of drugs like Tamiflu to treat "not less than 200,000 persons in case of a virus epidemic."

Meanwhile, no more bird flu cases were detected during the last 24 hours in Kuwait, Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti, spokesman of the National Joint Committee for Combating Bird Flu, told Kuwait Times yesterday. "The committee held its annual meeting on Tuesday chaired by Health Minister Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak to review the progress reports submitted by the Health Ministry and the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) about the bird flu's latest developments," he said.

On February 25, Kuwait announced the announced the outbreak of the deadly strain of the avian flu in the country leading to the culling of 1.7 million birds - 1.3 million of them egg-laying chickens - including turkeys, quails and even falcons, which are bred for hobbyists and are popular in the Gulf. A total of 106 cases of the virus have so far been confirmed in the state. Since the outbreak, 22 people have been admitted to hospital on suspicion of being infected, but later discharged. If the second tests from Egypt come positive, the four Bangladeshi workers might be the first human cases infected with the deadly H5N1 virus in Kuwait.

But more than a month after bird flu was detected, chicken and eggs are still on the menu in Kuwait, with imports assuring supply after two thirds of the state's egg-laying hens were culled. Kuwait has banned the import of live birds. Poultry shops have been closed since the end of February. But restaurateurs, scientists and poultry industry sources said that while poultry prices had risen, demand was being met with increased imports of frozen chicken from countries such as Brazil, India and France. "There are no problems with supplies. People are still ordering eggs and chickens," said Rana Al-Omani, who runs a fast food restaurant in downtown Kuwait City.

She said the price of fresh chicken breasts had risen by 50 per cent and eggs by 20 per cent in the last three weeks, but many consumers had not changed their eating habits. "I still eat chicken. I am not afraid of bird flu," said Kuwaiti engineer Badr, who was eating shawarma, a popular sandwich in the Middle East filled with grilled meat or chicken.

Experts said the full impact of the outbreak may not have been felt yet since suppliers were well stocked. "It is too early to say. We still have production from earlier, we still have it in the market. You don't feel the problem right now," said Afaf Al-Nasser, a food researcher at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). She said Kuwait's poultry farming industry was still functioning since most cases of bird flu, particularly in hens, had been detected in farms in the remote desert area of Wafra near the Saudi border, slowing the spread. "There are still areas unaffected," she said.

According to a recent study by her institute, 47 per cent of poultry meat and 55 per cent of table eggs for local consumption were being produced in Kuwait, with the rest coming from abroad.

Poultry firms in Kuwait were reluctant to talk about bird flu, with one source saying they did not want to disclose damages until compensation talks with the government were over. Experts say major fast food chains such as McDonald's, Burger King and KFC, popular in Kuwait, were not strongly dependent on the local industry anyway.

Avian flu still mainly infects birds, but experts fear that if the H5N1 strain mutates into a form easily transmitted from person to person, it could sweep the world and kill millions. The human death toll is nearing 200 globally and Gulf Arab states host millions of foreigners from around the world. Although the impact on diets has been minimal, the outbreak has made some people think twice. "I was blowing eggs for the kids to decorate for Easter then I realised that it wasn't a good idea to be doing that, with bird flu going around," said a South African teacher, referring to a Christian holiday where children traditionally paint eggs. (With inputs from agencies)