Friday, December 14, 2007

Russia To Cull 500K Birds

 

# 1356

 

After 35,000 birds died recently in Rostov, H5N1 was detected.  A massive cull is planned.   

 

 

 

 

Bird flu causes cull of half-million Russian chickens

 

Around half a million birds in Russia's south are due to be culled following an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in the Rostov region. Health officials are carrying out a massive vaccination programme against the virus.

 

 

There have been no reports of any human cases being registered, but anti-epidemic measures continue.

 

A quarantine area has been set up and neighbouring regions are making checks on their own poultry.

 

Russia first reported an outbreak of the H5N1 strain in 2005, on a farm in Siberia.

 

There have been no known cases of the virus being passed on to humans in the country.