January 30, 2007

EU confirms H5N1 bird flu in Hungary

Geese in Hungary tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, marking the first confirmed infection in the European Union since August.

Authorities found the H5N1 avian influenza strain in two separate flocks of geese in Hungary, European Commission spokesman Philip Tod said.

Geese suspected to be carrying avian flu virus were found at a farm in Ordongos on Friday, and 9,400 animals were ordered to be culled on Saturday, the ministry of agriculture (FVM) announced.

Some of the geese showed symptoms of nervous system disorders, a sign of bird flu infection. Although the same symptom shows if it had been a bacteria infection, a veterinary examination could not prove it.

Ministry spokesman Andras Dekany said in a telephone interview that wild ducks in the lake nearby could have spread the virus through their feces.

Birds in twenty-nine other farms within three kilometers from Ördöngős were examined and found to be healthy.

Geese infected with the virus were found in Csongr¨¢d County for the first time after half a year last week, as a result of which several countries have banned poultry imports from Hungary.

The European Union has not had any human cases. The last reported avian infection in Europe was a wild bird found in Germany in August, according to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health.

Governments across Asia are intensifying surveillance for H5N1 after the virus resurfaced in domestic poultry and wild fowl in South Korea, Thailand, China and Vietnam in the past few weeks. Hong Kong's government today confirmed that two more birds found earlier this month carried the H5N1 virus, adding to the three already discovered in the city.