May 5, 2006

Ukraine's Crimea reports more bird deaths

The Crimea regional office of Ukraine's emergencies ministry reported Thursday (May 4) mass deaths of wild birds in the north of the peninsula and the cause could be bird flu.

Although the cause of the deaths is not yet known, the emergencies ministry warned a new outbreak of bird flu was a distinct possibility.

Large numbers of migrating birds  are currently landing in Crimea, many of them flying from regions affected by bird flu, the ministry said.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Melnik said Mar 22 that Ukraine had completely eliminated bird flu on its territory and the quarantine in the last affected location, the village of Solnechnoe in Crimea, had been lifted.

Bird flu was first reported in Crimea in December.