September 11, 2007

Bird flu-laden ducks may have been released into German market

German officials conducting the biggest poultry cull in the country's history have found the bird flu virus in frozen duck samples, raising the possibility that some of the shipments sold to supermarkets may have the virus.

Ducks infected with the H5N1 bird-flu virus might have been eaten by unsuspecting Germans, but would not have infected anyone if it was well-cooked, a state health official said Monday (Sep 10).

The official was speaking after more than 300,000 ducks have been culled in Germany's Bavaria state in the towns of Wachenroth and Schwandorf due to the possibility of bird flu.

Officials testing for bird flu found the virus in 18 deep-frozen ducks set aside as batch samples at a poultry-company slaughterhouse.

Roland Eichhorn of the Bavarian consumer affairs ministry said although there remains of market samples being contaminated by bird flu, the ministry had reacted at the first sign of the outbreak and impounded all meat produced at the farms on or after July 30.

The outbreak was believed to have began August 1.

As this type of duck is casseroled, the cooked meat would pose no danger to the consumer, Eichhorn said.

Water birds are especially susceptible to the H5N1 virus. Germany had confirmed the presence of bird flu last year in dead swans and other water birds.