First bird flu case in two years
A wild duck has tested positive for bird flu in the first case in Switzerland in two years.
The European pochard was discovered on Lake Sempach near Lucerne carrying the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, the Swiss veterinary office said on Thursday.
Analysis of the virus showed that it bore a strong resemblance to cases of bird flu discovered elsewhere in Europe in 2007.
However, the office said that there would be no changes to existing protection measures for poultry farmers around larger Swiss lakes as a result. In particular, they will not be ordered to keep their birds inside.
Thirty-two wild birds were diagnosed with the virus in 2006, on Lake Geneva and in the region around Lake Constance.
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