July 12, 2006

Russia confirms new H5N1 bird flu cases in Tomsk region

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in 46 broiler chickens that died between Jul 2 and Jul 4 on a private holding in the village of Cherdaty in the Tomsk region of Siberia, the Tomsk regional office of the Russian emergencies ministry said Tuesday (Jul 11).

All remaining poultry on the holding has been culled and burnt and a team of 21 officials has been formed by the regional administration to prevent the disease spreading in the Zyrnyansky district, where the village is situated.

Local police are manning posts on the outskirts of the village to prevent poultry being taken out to regional markets.

The Siberian office of the Russian emergencies ministry announced Jun 27 that the outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu was intensifying in the constituent Tuva Republic among wild birds.

The emergencies ministry warned that further outbreaks were likely towards the end of July among young wild birds because their immunity to the virus is weak.