February 20, 2006

Dead fowls in four European countries test negative for bird flu

On Friday (Feb 17), authorities from four European countries--Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands--reported that dead fowls found earlier have tested negative for bird flu.

Tests on six swans found dead in Switzerland showed no signs of the bird flu virus, the country's veterinary office said.

Denmark's Veterinary and Food Administration said tests done on dead birds found in the southern part of the country do not show signs of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. Most of the 35 birds were found near the border with Germany, where authorities identified the first cases of the virus in that country earlier in the week.

Researchers in Finland reported that two dead swans discovered Wednesday in ice off the southern coast near Hanko, 130 kilometres west of Helsinki, did not have the deadly virus.

Tests on two dead swans found in the Netherlands have turned up no sign of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, a spokeswoman of the Dutch ministry of Agriculture said.

In their bid to prevent the spread of bird flu, Norway and Poland have imposed bans on free-range poultry, joining other European countries that have already done so.