Bird flu epidemic has killed more than 5,000 wild cranes – including 2000 in less than a week! – in a reserve north ofIsrael. Every year, cases are recorded on the shores of Lake Hula. But in 2021, the toll is unusually high for seasonal flu according to the authorities of the parks concerned. In addition to 5,000 dead, 10,000 birds estimated to be infected according to Ohad Hatsofe, specialist for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
More than 5,200 cranes killed by H5N1:
Every year, the virus affects Israel but this year, the epidemic is much larger than in previous years as explained by Uri Naveh, principal scientist of the Authority. More than 5,200 cranes died, an “exceptional” figure according to the scientist. The epidemic spreads in the Hula nature reserve, in the north of the country between the Lebanese mountains and Naftali. The Hula Valley is part of the route taken by the 500,000 common cranes that migrate annually.
NATURE: more than 2,000 wild cranes died in #Israel following an epidemic of #flu avian in a reserve of the country. 10,000 of these animals would be affected. #nature pic.twitter.com/ymbtsRas92
– Actualiste (@Actualistes) December 26, 2021
Thousands of them stop because the shallow lake allows them to rest there before continuing their journey to the heat ofAfrica to breed there from March. Each year, it is estimated that more than 40,000 cranes stop over in this valley. The carcasses are picked up by the rangers in protective suits in order toprevent other birds from being contaminated with H5N1. “This is the worst blow to wildlife in the country’s history,” Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg tweeted.
Contaminated laying hens:
Bird flu ravaging the crane population has also detected in some populations of chickens, still in the north of the country, the Israeli agriculture ministry said. The government therefore took the decision to suspend egg sales from affected farms by the H5N1 virus. Local media are talking regarding half a million laying hens – coming from a farm just a few miles from the lake – culled to limit the spread of the virus.
Apart from that we also have the avian flu which is rampant in Israel https://t.co/Vwmiizdx2o
— Juliette (@JulllietteB) December 26, 2021
He is rare for bird flu to spread to humans, but there have been epidemics in the past. For the moment, no case of transmission to humans has not been identified. But the Israeli Authority remains cautious and alerts the population because this flu “can be dangerous if it is contracted by humans. “And H5N1” is fatal for 36 to 50% of those infected, “Ohad Hatsofe said. The World Health Organization estimates that this virus would have killed 450 people since 2003, mainly in Indonesia, in Egypt and at Vietnam.
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