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Switzerland Reports Its First Bird Flu Case

26 February 2006

Cantonal inspector of the fauna of the Geneva department shows the spot where a dead duck was found
Cantonal inspector of the fauna of the Geneva department shows the spot where a dead duck was found
Switzerland has reported its first case of bird flu.

A dead wild duck found in central Geneva tested positive Sunday for the H5 virus. Tests are underway to determine if the duck had the H5N1 strain, which has killed 92 people since 2003, mostly in Asia.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has joined Japan in banning poultry imports from France, where bird flu has struck a turkey farm near the eastern city of Lyon.

France is Europe's biggest poultry producer. French President Jacques Chirac says there is absolutely no danger in eating properly cooked chickens and eggs. The agriculture ministry said Sunday 15 more wild swans infected with bird flu were found in the area near the turkey farm.

Elsewhere, Chinese media report that the agriculture minister is calling on authorities to go on high alert for what he says could be a massive bird flu outbreak in the coming months.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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