Two new Czech bird flu cases
Pastor Dale Morgan
Two new Czech bird flu cases*
From correspondents in Prague
July 12, 2007 06:05am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
TWO new outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which is potentially
fatal to humans, were confirmed at poultry farms in the centre of the
Czech Republic, veterinary services spokesman Josef Duben said today.
The two cases were near a chicken and turkey farm where the deadly
strain of the virus was already confirmed at the end of June.
"All the birds will have to be killed within the three kilometre
exclusion zone, including those of small breeders. Unfortunately, that
is the way it is," Mr Duben said.
The liquidation is due to start tomorrow.
The state veterinary service announced earlier today that H5 had been
confirmed at the two flocks, totalling around 70,000 birds, which are
mostly being raised for egg production, but the results of further tests
were awaited to confirm the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain.
The two farms are within the three-kilometre exclusion zone thrown up
around the village of Norin.
The H5N1 strain was confirmed in a 28,000-strong flock of chickens there
at the end of June.
The Norin case followed a week after the Czech Republic's first case of
H5N1 in domestic poultry was confirmed at a turkey farm at the nearby
village of Tisova, where the remainder of a 6000-flock was killed.
Since the initial Czech outbreak in June, other cases of the H5N1 strain
of bird flu have been declared in France and Germany.