AFP Photo
A
cyclist pushes a bicycle
on a surface sprayed
with sodium carbonate
near Versailleux,
eastern France, where
France's first case of
deadly bird flu was
found. The deadly H5N1
strain of bird flu has
been found on a turkey
farm in eastern France,
the agriculture ministry
announced, signalling
the first such outbreak
in the European Union
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PARIS (AFP) - The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found
on a turkey farm in eastern France, the agriculture ministry
announced, signalling the first such outbreak in the European
Union.
"The H5N1 virus is confirmed as the cause of the death of turkey
farmed in the Ain department (of eastern France)," the ministry
said in a statement released overnight.
It is the first outbreak on a farm in the European Union. Eight
EU countries have so far confirmed cases of the highly
pathogenic H5N1 strain: Austria, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia.
All previous cases have been found in wild migratory birds or
other birds who could easily mix with them. The existence of
H5N1 at the turkey farm could have major implications both for
consumer confidence and for national security procedures in
place against the virus.
The turkeys were all kept indoors and therefore should in theory
have been at minimal risk from the infection. |
In an interview with AFP before the suspected outbreak,
farm-owner Daniel Clair said, "I don't see how they can be
contaminated in a completely confined environment."
The Poultry Industry Federation (FIA) said that the turkeys may
have been contaminated by dried duck droppings on the straw used
as their bedding. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said
Friday that the government would decide what further steps to
take once the results were known.
The spread of the disease is worrying scientists and governments
because of fears the virus could mutate into a form that is
easily transmissible between humans, sparking a pandemic that
could kill millions.
France had previously confirmed two cases of H5N1 bird flu, both
in wild ducks found in the same department.
On Friday five more suspected cases were reported in wild swans
in the same area, and as a result a third of the Ain department
is now subject to surveillance measures.
Officials sounded the alarm at the turkey farm near Joyeux on
Thursday after an unusually high mortality was observed, with
more than 400 birds found dead of illness. All surviving birds
were slaughtered by the end of the day. |
