Sunday, February 26, 2006
First case of avian influenza (bird flu) reported in Switzerland
Swiss authorities on Sunday reported that a duck found dead in the heart of Geneva, near the city’s famous jet d’eau fountain, tested positive for the bird flu virus.
Swiss officials said it was not yet clear if the wild bird, found on Wednesday, was infected with the H5N1 strain of the virus which can infect humans.
“We have a first case of avian influenza. It’s H5,” Cathy Maret, Federal Veterinary Office spokesperson, said.
She also stated, A sample has been sent to a European reference laboratory in Britain to test for the H5N1 strain of bird flu and results are expected by the end of the week.