19.02.2006

The Egyptian authorities closed Cairo zoo and seven other state-run zoos around the country for two weeks from Sunday to prevent the spread of avian influenza after cases of the H5N1 virus were detected on Thursday.
Cairo zoo manager Talaat Sidraus told Reuters that zoo workers has immediately started disinfecting bird cages.
Witnesses saw dead and sick birds inside the zoo grounds on Sunday but it was not immediately clear if they had avian influenza. The authorities have reported cases of avian influenza in seven provinces, stretching from Dakahlia in the northeast of the Nile Delta to Qena in the far south. At least 10,000 birds have been culled at a chicken commercial farm north of Cairo.
On Sunday, merchants who normally slaughter and sell live chickens on the street had closed in compliance with a ban. Some remained open but had few customers.