Monday, January 29, 2007
Hungary confirms deadly bird flu strain
Hungarian authorities confirmed Monday that fowl in the southeast of the country was infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu virus, media reported.
In Brussels, European Commission spokesman Philip Tod said the deadly virus strain in geese in farms in southern Hungary was confirmed by the country’s state veterinary agency, the Hungarian BBJ.hu online reported.
This is the first outbreak in Europe since August.
Tod said a flock of nearly 9,500 geese was culled during the weekend after it was established the birds had bird flu symptoms at a farm 5 miles from another infected farm at the village of Lapisto in southeastern Hungary.
Last Tuesday, Hungarian authorities ordered culling some 3,300 geese at the Lapisto farm when veterinarians detected fowl with bird flu symptoms.
Avian influenza story source: Washington Times