The European Union (EU) announced today, October 16, that the dangerous H5N1 virus has been found in Croatia, the latest European country to be affected by avian influenza.
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Geese in Kopacevo, eastern Croatia, near the site where avian influenza was detected |
On the same day, the Chinese government reported an outbreak of avian influenza that killed 545 chickens and ducks in a village in Hunan province, prompting authorities to cull 2,487 birds in the affected area to prevent the spread of the disease. This information was cited by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and published on the website of the World Organization for Animal Health based in Paris, France.
The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture stated that this third outbreak is still “under control” and confirmed that laboratory results from the national lab indicate that the birds in question were infected with H5N1. However, the ministry and agricultural and health officials in Hunan province declined to provide further information.
Following reports of suspected avian influenza cases in Croatia over the past weekend, the European Council on Monday issued a ban on the import of live poultry, wild birds, and feathers from this Balkan country to prevent the disease from spreading. “This is a mandatory ban,” said Philip Tod, a spokesperson for the European Council.
Croatian officials reported that they have culled all poultry in four villages near Lake Nasice, where two out of thirteen swans tested positive for the H5N1 virus.
In Germany, officials stated that initial test results on wild geese found dead in the country also returned positive for avian influenza, but they indicated that further tests are needed to confirm whether it is indeed the H5N1 strain.
Slovenia, Hungary, and France are also conducting tests on birds found dead with suspected signs of avian influenza.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, health officials noted that Europe is better prepared to deal with avian influenza than Asia due to better funding and communication among countries in the region.
YUONG VY (According to AP)
