New bird flu virus case in eastern Romania
NST, 27 Nov 2005

A turkey has been found with the H5 strain of bird flu at Scarlatesti in eastern Romania, the agriculture ministry said, adding that authorities would begin slaughtering poultry in the area Sunday.

A total of 15,000 birds will be killed and incinerated, with owners receiving payments to compensate

their losses, the ministry said.

Wild birds "apparently" transmitted the virus to the infected turkey, Agriculture Minister Gheorghe Flutur said.

Romanian authorities on Monday announced the H5 virus was detected in seven swans and a water hen at Obretinul Mic, in the Danube delta.

Meanwhile, tests on four chickens that died a week previously in Caraorman, also in the delta, revealed they had the H5N1 strain.