New cases of bird flu suspected, government calls for help to fight H5N1

New suspected cases of bird flu have emerged in three locations in Niger, days after the country became the third in Africa to be confirmed to be infected by the deadly H5N1 virus. Dead birds have been found in the towns of Goure and Dogo - in the centre-south of the country near the border with infected states in Nigeria, and in N’Guigmi farther east, which also shares a border with Chad. Tissue samples from the three areas are on their way to the capital Niamey to be sent to a laboratory in Italy for testing. The same lab on Tuesday announced that the bird flu virus was found in domestic ducks from Magaria, Niger, near the border with Nigeria, the first African country to be struck. Government spokesperson Mohamed Ben Oumar told Radio France Internationale on Thursday that authorities plan to destroy poultry within a three-mile radius of infected areas, and put all birds in a 10-mile radius under “high medical surveillance.” Niger - among the world’s poorest countries - has a plan to fight bird flu, but not the means. The government called on the international community this week to help, saying it needs essential equipment such as protective clothing including masks and boots, vaccines, disinfectant and diagnostic kits. The government says even the vehicles and refrigeration units it has available are not sufficient to handle the bird flu threat. “Niger cannot cope alone, given the scale [of the problem] and the danger at hand - we are obliged to ask for help from the international community,” Ben Oumar said. The government statement said that in its budget for bird flu eradication it is planning to assist those who lose their livestock. Niger had banned poultry products from countries infected with H5N1 late last year then ordered a total ban on poultry imports after the virus hit neighbouring Nigeria 8 February.