EU's first 2009 bird flu case found in Germany

Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:46pm EDT

BRUSSELS, March 10 (Reuters) - Germany has informed the European Commission of an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, the EU's first case of the lethal strain of the contagious disease in poultry this year.

The outbreak occurred in the German state of Bavaria, the European Union's executive arm said in a statement.

"However, on basis of the favourable result of a risk assessment, Germany may refrain from the establishment of a control area and a surrounding monitoring area around a positive finding. This derogation has been used taking into account that the hunt had already taken place in January," the statement said. (Reporting by Darren Ennis)



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