February 13, 2006

Slovenia detects bird flu in swan

A swan in Slovenia has tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, said EU officials on Feb 13.

The Slovenian laboratory that made a first analysis of the swan has sent samples to the EU Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Weybridge, England, for further tests.

The announcement was made a day after Bulgaria, Greece and Italy detected the virus on their territories.

Slovenia has pledged to apply the precautionary measures set out in a European Commission decision adopted for Greece and Italy. These include setting up a 3-kilometre protection zone around where the swan was found, and a surrounding surveillance zone of 10 kilometres.

The EU officials said Slovenian authorities have contacted their Austrian counterparts because the surveillance area crosses the Slovenian-Austrian border.