April 26, 2006

Russia may see new cases of bird flu in summer

Russia's chief epidemiologist said the country is now the "epicenter" of the bird flu virus and the nation was likely to see new cases this summer, Russian news agencies reported Tuesday (Apr 25).

Gennady Onishchenko was quoted by Interfax and RIA-Novosti as saying unusual winter weather patterns in southern Russia, Turkey and Iran has forced many migrating birds to nest in unlikely places, explaining early outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain in the southern region of Dagestan and other places.

"The epicenter of the bird flu virus...has shifted to Russia," Onishchenko was quoted as saying by Interfax.

He also said uninfected migrating birds would reach Siberia and the Ural Mountains by the month's end, and likely become infected by the summer, RIA-Novosti reported.

Russia recorded its first cases of bird flu in Siberia in July. The virus, including the H5N1 stain, has since been found in birds in other parts of the country.

Russian officials last month said more than 1.2 million wild and domestic birds had been culled in February in an attempt to limit the spread of the disease.