Romania Says Animal Deaths Were Bird Flu

Romanian officials said Saturday the bird flu virus found in livestock is the deadly H5N1 strain first discovered in Asia in 2003.

The BBC reports Agriculture Minister Gheorghe Flutur told Realitatea television the virus found in two villages last week was evidence of the first outbreak of deadly bird flu in Europe.

More than 60 people and countless thousands of livestock have been killed by the virus, which appears to be spreading west from Asia.

Animals such as birds are particularly susceptible to the virus, although humans so far are not.

Health groups and officials around the world fear an eventual mutation in the virus would put millions of people at risk, causing a worldwide pandemic.

In the meantime, Romanian officials are meeting to determine the best way to protect from a massive outbreak in animals.