Israeli health authorities on Friday ordered the slaughter of tens of thousands of birds suspected of being infected by bird flu. This came after the Israeli Health Ministry confirmed suspicions indicating that the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus has reached Israel, after more than 1,000 birds died this week, Israel Radio reported.
This is the first time that the deadly virus - which has killed at least 97 people worldwide - was detected in Israeli birds. A few weeks ago the virus was also detedted in Egypt and Israeli officials said the death of the birds in southern Israel might indicate that the disease entered the country from Egypt. Another possibility is that the disease entered from Gaza Strip, Haaretz reported.
