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Bird flu hits Germany, Europe tries to stop spread

Infection Control Monitor, February 17, 2006

On Wednesday, Germany confirmed H5N1 bird flu in two swans, prompting other European countries to step up efforts to prevent the virus infecting domestic livestock, Reuters reports.

"Unfortunately it has been confirmed that the swans were infected with H5N1 from Asia," Reinhard Kurth, head of the Robert Koch Institute, told German television. "We have no doubts whatsoever any more."

The virus was first found to have reached the European Union when Italy and Greece said they had identified it in wild swans. They were followed by Austria which announced confirmed cases on Tuesday.

The virus could spread farther into Europe in spring when migrating birds return after wintering in Africa, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday.

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