ROSTOV-ON-DON, October 21 (RIA Novosti, Sofia Brykanova) - Mass domestic fowl deaths have been reported in two villages in the Rostov region in southern Russia, a local official said Friday.
In all, 270 waterfowl have died in a suspected outbreak of the fowl cholera, the official said, adding that test samples had been sent to regional veterinary lab for thorough analysis.
"We are trying to identify and slaughter the birds affected by the disease," the official said.
A European Union committee recommended Thursday that the European Commission ban live fowl imports from Russia, with the exception of certain regions. The ban and the fowl cholera incidents come on the heels of a mass outbreak in Siberia of bird flu, also confirmed Wednesday to be responsible for poultry deaths in the Tula region near Moscow.
