Czech Republic gets bird flu
27/03/2006 11:40  - (SA)  

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Prague - The Czech Republic's first case of bird flu was reported on Monday.

The CTK news agency reported that a swan tested positive for the disease which has been spreading in Europe among wild birds, forcing tough restrictions on poultry farms and cross-border trade.

Czech Agriculture Minister Jan Mladek was expected to discuss the situation on Monday with reporters. A ministry spokesperson declined to confirm the CTK report but told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that "I wouldn't say it is wrong."

Until now avian flu has not been detected in the Czech Republic, even though infected wild birds have been found in each of its neighbours - Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria.

To date 11 European Union countries have reported at least one suspected or confirmed case of the Asian strain of avian influenza H5N1 in wild birds.

Last week Czech officials opened two new lab facilities to supplement a testing programme at SVU's national laboratory in Prague, where about 1 300 birds have tested negative in recent months. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA

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