Experts in Romania believe a new outbreak of bird flu in the south east of the country is the kind that is potentially fatal to humans. Poultry in the area around the village concerned are already being culled. Samples from infected birds are to be sent to Britain next week to see if they are the H5N1 strain that has been detected in previous outbreaks in the same area.

An agriculture ministry spokesman said measures had been taken to contain the disease. He said residents of the village were being vaccinated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. People who have lost livestock will be compensated, he added. Similar action has been taken in Ukraine where bird flu was detected for the first time yesterday.
More than 2,000 birds have already died of the virus in Crimea but it is not yet known if it is the H5N1 type. The government has declared a state of emergency in the region.

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