High wild bird mortality in Iran, health body says
PARIS - Veterinary authorities in Iran have observed a high death rate among wild waterfowl but the cause remains unclear, the world animal health body said on Thursday."No pathological agent has been identified yet," the Paris-based Office International des Epizooties (OIE) said on its website, citing a report from Iran's chief veterinary officer.
"No post-mortem lesions are seen in the dead birds; weakness and death are the only evidence," it said, adding that the bird deaths totalled 3,673.
In Iran, a spokesman for the veterinary authority said no signs of bird flu had been discovered.
"We've done different tests on these birds but we haven't found anything. We don't know the reason (for their deaths). We haven't seen any cases of bird flu up to now," spokesman Behrouz Yasemi said. "We have quarantined the area."
The OIE said it had requested more information from Iran.
Source: Reuters
13 October 2005
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