New cases of high pathogenic avian influenza (H5) found in wild birds in Denmark

On 25 March 2006 the Danish Veterinary and Food Research Institute detected high pathogenic avian influenza (H5) in a tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), which was found dead in Guldborgsund at the coast of the island Falster near the town Nykøbing Falster.

Furthermore the Danish Veterinary and Food Research Institute has also detected high pathogenic avian influenza (H5) in a greylag goose (Anser anser), which was found dead near the harbour of Svendborg on the south coast of Funen.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Research Institute will continue investigations in order to clarify whether it is the H5N1 type already detected in other wild birds in Denmark and several other EU countries.

In accordance with Commission Decision 2006/115/EC a protection zone (minimum 3 km) and a surveillance zone (minimum 10 km) have been established surrounding the locations where the infected birds were found.

Svendborg is already included in the surveillance zone established on Friday 17 March 2006, after the detection of the nine tufted ducks in the marina of Ærøskøping and on Drejø. The existing surveillance zone has been extended.

All poultry within the zones must be kept inside and all poultry holdings – including hobby holdings – must be registered. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration will inspect all poultry holdings in the protection zone in the near future in order to look for possible fur-ther spread of bird flu.
 
Restrictions on movement of eggs and poultry have been imposed within the zones.

All hunting within the zones is also prohibited.

Information about the positive finding has been distributed to the European Communities. Furthermore OIE will be informed. 

Further information

On line information about the latest situation will be available on the website of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration http://www.fvst.dk/ where there is a daily update of the AI situation in Denmark.