H5N1 bird flu found in dead swans–German ministry

BERLIN (Reuters) – Initial tests on two dead swans in
Germany showed they were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain
of bird flu, the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Ministry
said on Tuesday.

A “quick test” carried out on dead swans found on the
Baltic Sea island of Ruegen had provided the positive result,
the ministry said.

“We have a very strong suspicion that both swans have been
infected with H5N1,” Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Minister Horst Seehofer told a news conference.

He said samples were on their way to Britain for testing in
the European reference laboratory and definitive results were
expected on Thursday.

Seehofer also brought forward a ban on keeping poultry out
of doors in Germany to Feb 17. Earlier on Tuesday, the ministry
had already brought forward the date for the ban to February 20
from March 1.

“The crucial point now is to prevent a transmission to
farming livestock,” said Seehofer. The virus is thought to be
carried by migratory birds which then infect farmers’ poultry.

Earlier on Tuesday, neighboring Austria as well as Iran
said they had detected the H5N1 virus in dead birds, following
its recent confirmation in birds in Italy and Greece.

The deadly strain of bird flu has so far killed 91 people
in Asia and the Middle East and forced the culling of millions
of poultry.