Spain detects its first case of H5N1 bird flu

MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish laboratory has confirmed the
country’s first case of H5N1 bird flu after analyzing a sample
taken from a wild migratory water bird, the Agriculture
Ministry said on Friday.

The dead great crested grebe was found in the northern
province of Alava and a sample sent to the National Reference
Laboratory on Thursday revealed “high pathogen” H5N1, the
ministry said.

The government has forbidden transport of poultry or bird
hunting within a 3 km (1.8 mile) protection zone round the
place where the grebe was found and is monitoring within a 10
km (6.2 mile) radius, the ministry said.

“We have reinforced monitoring of the countryside in order
to detect any deaths among wild birds as soon as possible,” the
ministry said.

It said there were no commercial poultry farms within 10 km
(6.2 miles) of the Salburua wetland, near the city of Vitoria,
where the bird was found.

With cases in Italy and other European countries, experts
had said it was only a matter of time before Spain also
confirmed it had found an infected bird.

The country has already enforced rules to cover poultry
being bred close to many wetlands areas in order to prevent
migrating birds infecting domestic fowl and keep the deadly
virus from coming into contact with humans.

Earlier this year the Madrid region ordered all poultry
farms to enclose their birds, whether close to wetlands or not,
and others may follow suit. But many smallholders in villages
also keep chickens unregistered in their backyards.

The European Commission said it had been informed of the
test result and that the Spanish authorities are applying the
measures required by EU legislation as agreed by member states
and the Commission.”

“In the protection zone, poultry movements are restricted
and poultry must be confined indoors,” said Philip Tod, the
Commission’s spokesman on health and consumer protection.

Although there is no vaccine for bird flu, Spain has
stockpiled anti-viral drugs, which suppress its symptoms. Last
year the government said it was buying enough drugs to cover 20
percent of the population.

Agriculture Minister Elena Espinosa said there was no
reason for alarm.

“It’s important to stress that the bird is a wild one and
remind everyone that this is a bird disease that is not passed
on by eating poultry products,” she told a news conference.

Chicken sales suffered in the past when bird flu cases were
discovered in neighboring countries.

The Small Farmers’ Union gave a similar message.

“This does not constitute a problem for our farms or a
reason to be alarmed,” the union’s Secretary General Lorenzo
Ramos told radio station SER.