Bird flu found in Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm
On Monday Swedish veterinary authorities confirmed that two dead swans found in downtown Stockholm were carrying the H5 strain of bird flu, indicating bird flu has probably reached the city.
One swan carcass was found on an island, the other on the surface of a frozen lake, both at the center of the capital.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs, however, had decided not to set up off-limits areas in the city for the time being as the carcasses carrying bird flu viruses appeared to be small in number.
Dozens of wild fowls had been found killed by avian influenza in four southern Swedish regions since the end of February. Among the dead birds, two wild ducks were detected carrying the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain virus.
The agricultural ministry has said that the viruses were coming up from southern regions. However, it noted that they were not spreading rapidly, thanks to the unusually long winter this year, which held back the migratory speed of north-bound birds.
While calling for calm, the government said the search effort to find dead wild birds will continue in and around the capital for several days.