July 5, 2007

New H5N1 bird flu cases suspected In France, Austria

The European Commission said Wednesday (July 4) it has been informed of new suspected cases of the H5N1 strain of flu in wild birds in France and Austria

The latest cases follow a confirmed H5N1 outbreak on two poultry farms and in a wild swan in the Czech Republic.

The commission also confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Germany.

In Germany, cases of the deadly H5N1 disease have been found over the past two weeks in Bavaria and Saxony. The new outbreak was confirmed in the region of Thuringia, close to the border with Saxony.

In France and Austria, the suspected cases were found in the regions of Moselle and Gmunden in Upper Austria respectively.

In both countries tests are being carried out to confirm what strain of the disease is in question.

All three countries are applying stringent protection measures to stop the flu outbreak from spreading to poultry from wild birds. Control areas, which ban hunting of wild birds and strengthen farm bio-security, have been created around the suspected bird flu areas.

The H5N1 virus was responsible for over 700 reported cases of flu in wild birds in the EU last year. Experts fear that the virus could mutate into a form easily transmitted between people.