France has confirmed its first case of the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 19, 2006 -- France confirms first case of virus
By Martin Arnold in Paris and Frederick Studemann in London
Published: February 20 2006 02:00 | Last updated: February 20 2006 02:00

France has confirmed that its first case of the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus was found in a dead wild duck near Lyons, marking the most westerly point the virus has reached in Europe.


Jacques Chirac, French president, said: "It is a situation that must be approached with calm, but also with the greatest seriousness."

He said the government had launched an action plan, imposing a 3km quarantine zone around the area where the virus was detected.

The virus's arrival in France threatens disruption to its poultry industry - Europe's largest - which saw sales of chicken, turkey and duck fall by 20 per cent last October in a bird flu scare. The government last week ordered poultry to be kept indoors to prevent contact with wild birds.

France plans to vaccinate any poultry that cannot be kept inside. The UK government yesterday ruled out ordering poultry indoors until the virus reached the country. Ben Bradshaw, animal welfare minister, said that the UK had a "good" contingency plan that drew on lessons learnt from previous animal disease outbreaks, such as foot and mouth.

"We think we have got a good plan, it is based on a scientific risk assessment. We are keeping the farmers and the poultry keepers informed and we are also asking the public for help," Mr Bradshaw told BBC radio.

*Bird flu was detected for the first time on the German mainland yesterday. Austria has reported more cases, while authorities in Bulgaria were testing a man for H5N1 after two of his ducks died, agencies report. Egyptian authorities yesterday closed Cairo zoo and seven other state-run zoos for two weeks after 83 birds died, some from the H5N1 strain.

More information can be found online at http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a69012a6-a1b5-11da-9ca4-0000779e2340.html

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