# 1027
Novosti, the Russian News and Information Service, is carrying this item warning about possible outbreaks of bird flu in the Urals during August.
It appears to be speculation, based on previous outbreaks there.
Sometimes, however, officials in Russia will express concern over `future events' that have already happened. And then, a few days later, leak the story. We'll have to wait and see.
Emergencies ministry warns of bird flu outbreak in Urals in Aug.
11:41
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31/ 07/ 2007
YEKATERINBURG, July 31 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations warned Tuesday of a danger of bird flu outbreaks in August in the Chelyabinsk Region, in the south Urals.
"Bird flu outbreaks are not impossible in August in the Chelyabinsk Region. In 2005, three out of the seven registered bird flu outbreaks occurred in August," a spokesman said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bird flu has killed 192 people around the world since late 2003.
Indonesia has been the worst hit by human bird flu cases, and has the highest mortality rate from infections with the deadly H5N1 viral strain, at about 80%. The virus has spread rapidly in the country, which has the world's fourth largest population.
The second hardest-hit country is Vietnam, where 95 human bird flu cases have been registered, with 42 deaths.
