- (Reuters) - A swan found dead in a zoo in the eastern
German city of Dresden was infected with the highly infectious H5N1 strain
of bird flu which is dangerous for humans, the local government said on
Friday.
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- A government spokeswoman in Dresden said tests carried
out by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, which advises the government on
animal diseases, had confirmed the disease in the swan which was found
on Wednesday.
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- "We can confirm that this is the highly pathogenic
strain," said the spokeswoman.
-
- As a protective measure, authorities have sealed off
an area of 3 km (1.9 miles) and a created a 10 km (6.2 mile) observation
zone.
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- Dresden Zoo remains open but has confined its birds to
cages, closed off visitor access to them and stepped up disinfection procedures.
Poultry are being examined and the movement of cats and dogs in the area
has been restricted.
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- H5N1 bird flu was discovered in wild birds in Germany
in February and in domestic fowl in April.
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