Ducks Died Of H5N1 Bird Flu Virus Strain In German Farm

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary;  Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 27 Aug 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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Authorities have confirmed that the dead ducks at a poultry farm in Wachenroth, Bavaria's Erlangen-Hoechstadt area, Southern Germany, about 120 miles north of Munich, were infected with the virulent H5N1 avian influenza virus strain. Over 400 ducks died in the farm over a short period. Tests carried out at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute of Veterinary Medicine identified the H5N1 virus strain.

The farm has been isolated with a three-kilometer exclusion zone and all 160,000 birds were slaughtered in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease. This is the biggest ever culling operation in Germany. The animals were placed in large containers and electrocuted or gassed on Saturday afternoon.

In June, 2007, several cases of H5N1 infection among wild birds were reported in Bavaria and Sachsen.

As experts try to find out the origin of this outbreak, rumors spread that the birds had come from northern Germany. These rumors were later denied. Otmar Bernhard, Bavarian Health Secretary, said it has not so far been possible to pinpoint the source of this outbreak.

In recent years nearly 200 people have died of bird flu infection globally, most of the deaths took place in Asia. Nobody has died of bird flu infection in Europe.

Several scientists around the world believe that the H5N1 bird flu virus strain will mutate one day and become easily human transmissible - meaning that sick humans will easily pass it on to other humans. At the moment it is difficult for a bird to infect a human, and even harder for a person to infect another person.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today