Bird flu reaches Sweden and Denmark

The National Veterinary Institute in Sweden say that tests done in a laboratory in Weybridge, England, have confirmed that two wild ducks found on its east coast carried the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Preliminary tests carried out late last month had indicated that the ducks which were found near the Baltic port city of Oskarshamn were carrying the aggressive H5 virus.

The latest tests were needed to confirm that they were carrying the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Following the discovery of the first two cases about a dozen wild birds found along Sweden's southeast coast and on the Baltic island of Gotland have also been identified as carrying the H5 virus.

To date no cases have been reported in domestic fowl.

Nordic neighbour Denmark has also found its first case of the lethal virus in a wild buzzard but again tests are still being conducted to establish and confirm it was the deadly H5N1 strain, officials said on Wednesday.

According to Jan Mousing, director of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA), they are certain that it is the H5 virus but as yet cannot confirm it is H5N1.

Officials say the dead bird was found near the town of Naestved, about 70 km (44 miles) south of Copenhagen in the southern part of the island of Zealand, a wetland area with many migrating birds.

Danish authorities have established a 10 km quarantine area around where the bird was found, and has banned the transport of birds out of the area.

People have been ordered to keep domestic fowl indoors.

Denmark has a profitable poultry industry and the country has been on a high alert for bird flu since the disease was found on the German Baltic island of Ruegen, near Denmark's southern coast in mid-February.

Danish experts have since examined 230 dead birds for avian flu and officials say that monitoring will continue.

Jan Pedersen, General Manger of the Danish Poultrymeat Association, has said they have tightened their rules to make sure that the virus is kept out of domestic poultry sheds.

As a rule the H5N1 virus kills poultry within 48 hours; people can become infected by come close contact with sick or dead birds.

The Danish Minister of Family and Consumer Affairs Lars Barfoed says more cases can be expected.