BIRD FLU IN AFRICA?

["james.d.mcintyre" <james dot d dot mcintyre at worldnet dot att dot net>]

The following article on the possibility that Africa could be the 
incubator for a bird flu pandemic appeared in USA TODAY, Tues Nov 8: 
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-11-07-bird-flu-africa_x.htm

Here are 2 excerpts:
  As countries scramble to slaughter infected poultry and stock up on 
vaccine to prevent a pandemic if the virus mutates into a form that can 
be transmitted among humans, there is growing concern about the effect 
of the disease on Africa. The continent's population, already ravaged by 
AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, could be particularly vulnerable.

  But imported domestic birds are not thought to be the biggest threat. 
Instead, some scientists believe migrating birds are spreading the 
virus. The final destination for many wild birds fleeing winter in the 
Northern Hemisphere is Africa.  East Africa is one of the main areas of 
concern. The lakes of the Great Rift Valley are a staging post for 
millions of migrating birds every year as they head farther south. 
Others will settle around the tropical lakes until March.

 Jim McIntyre
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