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Germany confirms renewed outbreak of bird flu

By IRNA

Berlin : A spokeswoman for the German agricultural ministry confirmed here Sunday that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus was detected at a poultry farm in the southern city of Erlangen. Speaking at a press briefing, Ursula Huber said some 160,000 animals were affected by the virus and had to be culled.

She added the poultry farm was already sealed off and preventive measures were put in place.

According to earlier German press reports, some 400 geese were found dead in their stalls on Friday.

Tests conducted by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute of Veterinary Medicine discovered the lethal strain in five of the birds.

German health officials had already issued a high alert in early July after the deadly bird flu virus was detected scores of wild birds in four German states in early July.

As a consequence of the bird flu detection, German officials had ordered farmers to keep poultry indoors in the four affected states.

Health officials also advised the public not to eat food products which are prepared with raw eggs.

At least 190 people worldwide have died of bird flu since 2003, mainly through coming into close contact with infected poultry, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).