Dangerous swans

In Italy, the bird flu virus was found in 21 swans, 20 of them have already died.

"According to the results of laboratory tests conducted at the Special Research Center in the city of Padua, in five cases the viruses are highly pathogenic H5N1," specified Italy's Minister of Health Francesco Storace.

Infected migratory birds were found in the Italian regions of Apulia, Calabria and on the island of Sicily, between the cities of Messina and Catania.

At the same time, Italy's Ministry of Health is trying to reassure the country's residents. "If there were grounds for concern, we would certainly announce it," the minister assured. "What happened in Italy has already taken place in other countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Cyprus."

European Commission takes action on Greece

In Greece, samples from three dead swans found in the vicinity of the city of Thessaloniki tested positive.

"The EU laboratory in London has confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in three samples taken from dead swans. The birds migrated to Greece from the northeast," the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

On Saturday, another suspected case of bird flu was also announced. Samples taken from a wild goose on the island of Skyros in the Aegean Sea showed the presence of bird flu, but it is not yet known whether it is the variety of the virus dangerous to humans.

At the same time, no domestic bird has so far been infected with the dangerous virus. This allows experts to hope that isolated cases of the disease among migratory birds will not lead to an outbreak of bird flu in Greece.

The European Commission has obligated the Greek authorities to create a "protection zone" within a radius of three kilometers from the places where the bird flu-infected swans were found. To avoid the possible spread of the viral disease in this zone, all domestic poultry must be kept indoors. A ban will be introduced on the export of live domestic poultry, its meat and feathers, and hunting of wild birds will also be prohibited. In addition, within a radius of 10 kilometers from the "epicenters" of bird flu, a "civil protection" zone will be created. To date, the deadly virus has claimed more than 80 lives, mainly in the countries of Southeast Asia.

Printed in the newspaper "DELO" No. 76 of February 13, 2006