Brussels, 17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The highly pathological H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus was found in a wild duck in Bavaria, Germany, on 11 March. This is the first such case in the EU for over a year, the European Commission points out. As part of routine surveillance, samples have been taken from 35 other ducks and four geese.
The last case discovered in a wild bird was in the United Kingdom in February 2008. The last case of H5N1 infecting farmed birds dates from October 2008 in a farm in Saxony. In line with 2006 Community rules, the German authorities have taken steps to prevent the spread of the bird flu virus: identification of wild animals contaminated to avoid the spread of the virus to poultry farms in the surrounding area; - setting up a control zone and a wider surveillance zone around the spot where the duck was found. (L.C./transl.rt)