A POULTRY FARMER WAS BEING TREATED FOR SUSPECTED BIRD FLU AFTER CHICKENS ON HIS KHARTOUM FARM TESTED POSITIVE IN SUDAN'S FIRST CASED OF AVIAN INFLUENZA, A GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAID TUESDAY ACCORDING TO DPA. POULTRY ON THE MAN'S FARM IN KHARTOUM AND TWO POULTRY FARMS IN GEZIRA STATE TESTED POSITIVE TO THE LESS VIRULENT H5 BIRD FLU STRAIN ACCORDING TO DR MOHAMED RAVIK, AN OFFICIAL FROM THE MINISTRY OF ANIMAL RESOURCES. THE H5 STRAIN IS CONTAGIOUS AND CAN KILLS BIRDS, BUT IS NOT LETHAL TO HUMANS. "WE CONSIDER THE MAN AS A POSITIVE CASE AND HAVE BEGUN TREATMENT," A SPOKESMAN AT THE SUDANESE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TOLD DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR DPA. THE FARMER'S TEST RESULTS WERE REPORTEDLY UNCONCLUSIVE AND WERE SENT TO CAIRO FOR FURTHER TESTING, HE ADDED. HE DECLINED TO COMMENT ON WHAT STRAIN THE MAN WAS TESTED FOR. SUDAN HAS BANNED ALL POULTRY IMPORTS, WITH EXTRA PRECAUTIONS ON ALL RELATED PRODUCTS COMING FROM IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNER EGYPT, WHERE FOUR PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM THE DEADLY H5N1 STRAIN.
