Russia confirms bird flu in 3 farms near Moscow
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Russia confirms bird flu in 3 farms near Moscow*
22 Feb 2007 13:51:59 GMT
Source: Reuters
MOSCOW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Russia has confirmed outbreaks of the highly
pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu, potentially dangerous to humans, in
three farms near the capital where it had been suspected, a veterinary
official said on Thursday.
"These are not new cases, but part of the same pattern, where the source
can be traced to one and the same place," Nikolai Vlasov, head of
veterinary surveillance at animal and plant health watchdog
Rosselkhoznadzor, told a news briefing.
This month, bird deaths were registered at small private farms in eight
districts in the region of Moscow, in the neighbouring Kaluga region and
in the republic of Adygeya, a region in the North Caucasus.
As of Thursday, H5N1 virus had been officially confirmed in Moscow's pet
market, seven districts in the Moscow region and in Adygeya. It has yet
to be confirmed in the Dmitrov district and in the region of Kaluga.
Health officials have traced all outbreaks in the Moscow region to birds
bought in the last two weeks at the Sadovod market, commonly known as
"Ptichka", or "Birdie".
The Moscow region outbreaks are Russia's second instance of bird flu
this year and the first ever so close to the capital.
The third area affected, Adygeya, is surrounded entirely by the southern
region of Krasnodar, where H5N1 killed poultry in three settlements last
month in the country's first outbreak in 2007.
Vlasov said the outbreak of the virus in Adygeya could have been caused
by migrant fowl which nest in winter in this region. No human cases of
bird flu have been recorded in Russia.
"All people who have been in contact with the dead birds, especially
those who were found to have respiratory diseases have been checked
thoroughly, but none have shown any sign of falling ill", Vlasov said.
The emergencies ministry said on Thursday that since February 9 1,500
birds have been culled to prevent the spread of the virus and 355 have died.
The virus has killed 167 people worldwide since 2003, mostly in Asia and
in cases where the victims had been in direct contact with infected
birds. A total of 274 cases have been recorded in humans.
Health experts fear the virus could mutate into a form that passes
easily between humans, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.
Five people have died from eight cases in Azerbaijan, which borders
Russia in the south.