MOSCOW, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - The Federal Veterinarian and Epidemiological Surveillance Service (a branch of the Russian Agriculture Ministry) has confirmed that a highly pathogenic virus causing bird flu has been discovered.
"The Federal Veterinarian and Epidemiological Surveillance Service has said that at the national veterinarian clinic in Vladimir, after analyzing birds which had died recently in the Novosibirsk Region, a type-A, sub-type H5N1 virus has been found," a ministry statement said.
"The data received suggests the need for broader quarantine measures."
The deaths of wild and domestic birds (chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys) were reported on July 11 in certain farming regions of the Novosibirsk Region (western Siberia), which are resting points for migrating birds. The wave of bird deaths has now subsided. All of the dead birds have been incinerated, and sanitary measures have been taken in the areas where they lived.
Doctors have not found any cases of humans being affected.
Russian Chief State Medical Officer Gennady Onishchenko said the virus could have been carried into the region by migrating birds.
