January 29, 2007

EU endorses Hungarian bird flu security measures

European Union governments Friday (Jan 26) endorsed Hungarian security measures to stem the spread of a lethal bird flu virus detected this week in the southeast of the country.

Veterinary experts found culling of the diseased birds, buffer zones and transport restrictions ordered by Budapest fulfill European security requirements, EU spokesman Philip Tod said.

Hungarian authorities Wednesday detected the deadly H5N1 virus in a flock of farm geese in the south-east of the country. Budapest imposed emergency security measures, restricting the movement of birds, ordering poultry indoors and stopping poultry meat exports.

This is the first incidence of highly pathogenic bird flu in the EU since August 2006, when one case occurred in Dresden zoo in Germany.