Belgium tests dead swan for bird flu
13 Feb 2006 08:33:11 GMT
BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Belgian health officials were testing a dead swan found near the Dutch border for avian flu, but stressed on Monday they were merely following procedure and were not too concerned. "This is normal procedure, we have tested several birds," a spokeswoman for Belgium's food agency said. "It is most likely that it died a natural death."
Results of the test were expected in a few days, she said.
Over the weekend, the European Commission said it had found the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in Italy, Bulgaria and Greece, confirming the disease's arrival in the European Union.
Scientists fear that the disease, which is already lethal to humans if they come into close contact with infected birds, will mutate to allow it to pass between people, potentially causing a pandemic that could kill millions.
The Commission asked its 25 member states last year to increase surveillance of dead birds, and it is in line with that demand that Belgium is testing the dead swan, the food agency spokeswoman said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13110720.htm
[My note: If found to have died from bird flu it would be out of character for normal migratory routes.]
13 Feb 2006 08:33:11 GMT
BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Belgian health officials were testing a dead swan found near the Dutch border for avian flu, but stressed on Monday they were merely following procedure and were not too concerned. "This is normal procedure, we have tested several birds," a spokeswoman for Belgium's food agency said. "It is most likely that it died a natural death."
Results of the test were expected in a few days, she said.
Over the weekend, the European Commission said it had found the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in Italy, Bulgaria and Greece, confirming the disease's arrival in the European Union.
Scientists fear that the disease, which is already lethal to humans if they come into close contact with infected birds, will mutate to allow it to pass between people, potentially causing a pandemic that could kill millions.
The Commission asked its 25 member states last year to increase surveillance of dead birds, and it is in line with that demand that Belgium is testing the dead swan, the food agency spokeswoman said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13110720.htm
[My note: If found to have died from bird flu it would be out of character for normal migratory routes.]
