Bird flu kills some 35 thousand chicken in Nabi Sheet, agriculture minister declares emergency

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, declared during a news conference yesterday the state of emergency after news of the outbreak of the deadly bird flu in four farms in the Beqaa town of Nabi Sheet which killed nearly 35 thousand egg- laying chickens. Chehayeb said his ministry and other competent departments will work to curb the spread of the virus by exterminating all the birds within the radius of the infected farms and compensating the poultry farmers for the losses incurred as a result. Chehayeb also disclosed that the ministry has formed a task force at the Nabi Sheet municipality to conduct the necessary check-up and tests in the environs. He pointed out to the following measures to be taken on part of ministries involved, mainly: 1) impose a security cordon by the Lebanese Army around the disease-ridden area; at the same time, the agriculture ministry teams will cooperate with other faculties to implement the disaster response plan; 2) the health ministry will follow up the medical conditions of farm workers to ensure their safety; 3) the environment ministry will supervise the proper burying of the infested flocks; and finally, the Higher Rescue Committee will carry out the required procedures, including report writing, to ensure fair compensation for the damaged farmers. In conclusion, Chehayeb, clarified that there is no need for panic or worry, noting that he will be transparent in reporting the developments to the Lebanese people on any imminent transmission of the disease to any other region. (As Safir, Al Diyar, April 22, 2016)