Posted February 14th, 2006 at 9:46PMBird flu spreading across Europe
Two swans found dead in northern Germany have the virulent H5N1 bird flu virus, officials say, marking the first such cases in the country.
The birds were found on the island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea, off Germany.
Hours earlier, Austrian officials confirmed their first cases of bird flu, also in a pair of dead swans.
The United Nations’ food agency has urged governments in Western Europe not to panic but warned the virus could spread further when birds migrate.
The H5N1 strain of the virus, which can kill humans through contact with infected animals, has been found in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria recently.
I think it’s only a matter of time before it hits N. America. I’m not knowledgable enough to comment on the possibilities of it ever actually coming to a full-blown pandemic, but obviously I hope not.
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