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Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in samples taken from farm in Primorye, in far eastern Russia. The owner of the farm was hospitalized, but has now been released, cleared of having the virus.
Meanwhile, 37,500 chickens have died in Perm, in the Urals. Tests are being conducted to determine if the bird flu virus is the cause.
Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Russia's Far East
10:25
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15/ 04/ 2008VLADIVOSTOK, April 15 (RIA Novosti) - Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a deadly strain of bird flu in a village in the Primorye Territory, in Russia's Far East, where ten birds suddenly died last week, local officials said Tuesday.
More than 40 birds have been slaughtered at the farm, and quarantine restrictions have been introduced in the area. A total of 350,000 birds have been vaccinated, a spokesman for the administration said.
The farm owner, who was hospitalized last week with suspected bird flu, has been released as tests showed no trace of the lethal H5N1 virus, the Russian center of emergency medicine said.
Local officials have so far introduced a hunting ban on ducks, geese and other waterfowl, although samples taken from more than 150 wild birds have proved negative.
Meanwhile, reports from Perm, in the Urals, said a total of 37,500 birds have died, and tests are being carried out for the virus.
No human fatalities or cases of humans infected with bird flu have been reported in Russia, where the first outbreaks were registered in southern areas of the country and Siberia in 2005. The last reported outbreak occurred in December in southern Russia's Rostov Region, resulting in the culling of thousands of poultry.
