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Dominican Authorities Quarantine, Sacrifice Birds After Bird Flu Discovery


Dominican authorities have quarantined and sacrificed a number of birds after detecting a strain of bird flu last month.

The World Organization for Animal Health said in a report that 130 birds were slaughtered after authorities discovered a case of the virus near the capital, Santo Domingo, and another some 145 kilometers to the east in the village of Higüey.

Officials say the virus is the H5N2 strain, which does not affect humans.

Government livestock director Angel Faxas said officials believe the virus reached the Dominican Republic through birds introduced into the country illegally.

The World Health Organization reports that the more virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 216 people worldwide since 2003.

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

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