March 31, 2006

New bird flu cases confirmed in south-eastern France

France's food safety agency Thursday (Mar 30) confirmed five new cases of a lethal strain of bird flu in wild swans found dead in a south-eastern region already hit by the virus.

Laboratory tests showed that the five swans found last week around four ponds in the Dombes district of the Ain region had the H5N1 strain of bird flu, according to a statement from the local administration.

Tests were being conducted on seven more birds found dead in the area. At least 35 wild birds in France, most in the Ain region, have been found to have had the deadly form of bird flu.

Authorities had no plans to change security measures already established in the region to prevent the spread of the virus, the statement said.

France also detected H5N1 in the region last month on a turkey farm, the first commercial poultry in the European Union hit by the virus.