First European Bird Flu Case

The first outbreak of bird flu in Europe this year has occurred in Hungary. The European Union announced that a number of geese had died and on testing they were found to have the H5N1 virus. The outbreak occurred in the Province of Csongrad County that is in South East Hungary according to health officials at the European Union in Brussels. The bird flu testing was done after farmers noticed that in a flock of about three thousand geese an abnormally high amount of them were dying. In line with standard policy and procedure all of the other remaining geese were killed.

The officials who carried out the cull of the geese were praised for their efficient response to the situation and the EU health division said that as a result there should be no further threat of other birds being infected by the deadly bird flu virus. They also said that poultry exports from Hungary should continue and no ban was needed at present.

The EU also imposed a surveillance zone of 10 kilometres and a protection zone of 3 kilometres around the affected are as a precaution. Other countries however were not convinced and neighbouring Serbia has refused to accept imports of birds from Hungary and has stepped up monitoring of their own poultry flocks.

The World Health organization and The EU Health Directorate say that instant culling of all birds and flocks that are infected with the H5N1 virus is essential if the virus is to be contained properly.

There are concerns that this year the virus may mutate into other animals and maybe even into humans and millions of Euros are being spent on anti-bird flu measures including the stockpiling of Tamiflu that is said to be the most effective bird flu drug top cure humans of the disease.

Tamiflu requires a prescription from a doctor but it can be stored at home for future use as a precaution.