Sunday, February 19, 2006

Bird Flu spreads to Germany

German Angela Merkel has termed as "serious" an outbreak of bird flu in the north of the country, as the lethal virus widens its reach worldwide.

Speaking during a visit to the affected Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, Mrs Merkel said her government would do everything in its power to contain bird flu.

German soldiers are being sent to the area to help contain the outbreak, and nearby poultry stocks have been culled.

The lethal H5N1 strain has killed at least 90 people since 2003.

France, India and Iran are the latest countries to report the presence of the deadly virus in dead birds.

It can be caught by humans who handle infected birds, but it is not yet known to have passed between people.

Scientists have warned that if the virus mutates it could create a pandemic that could kill millions of people.
Read full story via bbc news

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