Avian flu in German zoo swan

An Australian black swan tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza at a German zoo yesterday, in the country's first sign of the virus in three months.

The swan was found dead at the Dresden Zoo in eastern Germany on Aug 1. After the bird tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, the zoo quarantined other animals and sought government permission to vaccinate the zoo's collection of 720 birds of 112 species.

Zoo staff say the virus may have entered the zoo last winter when wild birds visited the zoo's ponds.

Germany's last outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu were in February among wild birds and in April in farm poultry.

More news and information on bird flu / avian influenza.

Editor WorldPoultry