FAO warns bird flu virus has spread from wild birds to poultry, Hungary affected

Budapest, November 9 (MTI) – A recently identified bird flu strain has spread from wild birds to poultry farming, and Hungary is among the countries where the risk of infection could last until the spring of 2017, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned.

The H5N8 strain was first identified in wild game in Tuva Republic, south-west Russia, less than two months ago, and it is likely to spread in south-western direction along the birds’ autumn migration route, FAO officials told MTI on Wednesday.

H5N8 infections have so far been reported in Poland, Kerala State in India, as well as Hungary.

An infected dead mute swan was identified late October by Lake Feher in Hungary’s Csongrád County, a favourite resting spot of migratory birds, Budapest-based FAO farming specialist Andriy Rozstalnyy told MTI.

Hungarian officials have confirmed suspicions of bird flu, saying it was probably the same strain as the one identified in Russia, which probably spread further on to India.

The pattern in which the H5 subtype has appeared suggests that migratory birds are potential virus carriers through their annual journeys. The recent H5N8 cases have added up to the fourth officially confirmed infection wave spanning several continents since 2005.

FAO officials said affected countries and their neighbours should track the spread of the virus and tighten biological security measures on poultry farms.