Deadly Bird Flu Strain Confirmed in France, page 1

The steady march of the deadly avian influenza, H5N1, has been confirmed in France. A turkey farm in the eastern part of the country has been infected, with over 80% of the birds reported to be dead.

news.bbc.co.uk
France has confirmed the deadly bird flu virus H5N1 has been found on a turkey farm in the east of the country.

It is the first time a European Union farm has been infected. France has already had cases in two wild ducks.

About 80% of more than 11,000 birds at the farm have died in the past week, and the rest have been culled.

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The relentless spread of this deadly strain of influenza is highly disconcerting. Currently the virus still hasn't mutated into a bug that can spread from person to person.

However, if history is any indication, it's only a matter of time before the infection within bird populations achieves a 'critical mass' wherein a mutation that is highly contagious to humans emerges.

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[edit on 27-2-2006 by asala]