First case of bird flu in Spain

Jul 10 2006

According to Spanish agriculture officials the first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus recorded in Spain has been found in a wild bird in the northern Basque country.

The bird, a Great Crested Grebe is they say an isolated case and that people should not panic.

Authorities say the bird was found nine days ago in the province of Avala and no other infected cases have been identified.

The Great Crested Grebe is a water bird and is commonly found in marshes and freshwater lake areas throughout Europe and many parts of Asia.

The bird is commonly a resident in Europe but when winters are harsh the bird will migrate.

The bird nests on the banks of lakes or rivers where it hunts for fish and other water creatures and two eggs are usually laid each season.

It has a wing span of up to 70cm and is about 50cm long; it hunts for fish and other aquatic creatures and will often chase after its prey underwater.

The bird has a pink bill and is white in the winter; it has remarkable head and neck decorations in the summer.

The bird was hunted almost to extinction in the 19th century for its head plumes and as a result the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was created.

The RSPB and other bird protection organisations are concerned that measures taken to protect humans from bird flu are balanced and well thought out so that the well-being of wild and domestic birds are taken into account.

The re-emergence of the H5N1 bird flu virus has already resulted in millions of both wild and domestic birds being culled.

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture has enforced a 3 kilometre no poultry or bird hunting zone around the area where the dead bird was found and a heightened level of monitoring is also taking place within a ten mile radius of the area.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, Spain is the 20th country in Europe to report H5N1, not including Russia and Turkey.

Experts remain fearful that bird flu cases will increase in Europe with the autumn migration season.