| ■ Swans in France Died From Bird Flu | 07.07.09 |
| Three swans found dead in the Moselle region of France have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the government said Thursday. The Agriculture Ministry said its response included the segregation of nearby domestic birds and a ban on bird-related activities, including pigeon-racing competitions, the Associated Press reported. Recent positive bird flu tests on fowl also have been reported in Germany in Bavaria and Saxony, the wire service said. While it remains difficult for people to acquire bird flu, at least 191 people worldwide have died from the disease in recent years, the AP reported, citing the World Health Organization. Experts worry, however, that the virus will mutate into a form that's more easily passed between people, sparking a human pandemic. |