March 16, 2006

Bird flu hits Denmark

Denmark has found its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus in a wild fowl, said officials on Wednesday.

Denmark, a major poultry producer with output worth US$483.5 million annually, had been on guard against bird flu since the disease was found on the German island of Ruegen, in mid-February.

The country had since examined more than 100 dead wild birds for avian flu. Neighbouring Sweden reported its first bird flu case on Feb 28.

Jan Pedersen, general manger of the Danish Poultry Meat Association, said producers are prepared to face the menace, adding that most have further tightened measures to make sure that the virus is kept out of poultry sheds.

The H5N1 virus usually kills poultry within 48 hours and could infect people who came into close contract with sick birds.