Bird flu spreads to mammal

As Swedish authorities confirm the presence of the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in the country, German authorities announce that a dead cat found in the isle of Rügen in northern Germany had H5N1 avian influenza.

Swedish authorities informed the Commission, on 28 February 2006, that the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus had killed two wild ducks in the Oskarshamn region in the southern coast of Sweden. Samples have been sent to the Community reference laboratory for further tests to determine whether the ducks were killed by the H5N1 virus. Sweden is already applying the precautionary measures previously agreed by the EU-25.

In another development, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in a cat in Germany, found dead on the northern island of Ruegen, where a number of H5N1-infected wild birds was found earlier. This is the first time the H5N1 has been identified in Europe in an animal other than a bird. This does not necessarily imply that the virus has jumped a species barrier from birds to mammals as it is established that when cats eat infected birds, they can themselves become infected. 

As to the current situation in France, around 20 countries have banned poultry imports from France following the H5N1 outbreak in an indoor turkey farm in the country. A total or a partial embargo concerns also related products such as foie gras. France is the EU’s biggest exporter of poultry and non-EU countries count for 30% of the exports. 

Read more with Euractiv

Bird flu sneaks into poultry holding in France

French authorities have confirmed an avian influenza virus H5N1 outbreak in an indoor turkey farm, close to the area where the virus was earlier found in wild birds. Switzerland suspects H5N1 in a dead wild duck.