New Cases Of Bird Flu In Romania

Eastern Ukraine has already experienced a severe outbreak of bird flu (epa) 23 December 2005 -- Authorities in Romania today reported new cases of bird flu in the southeastern part of the country.

Gabriel Predoi, head of the Agricultural Ministry's National Animal Health Agency, said four chickens from the village of Stelnica, 140 kilometers east of Bucharest, tested positive for the H5N1 strain, which is potentially deadly to humans.

Predoi said other cases of bird flu were discovered in chickens in the neighboring village of Stefan Voda. Predoi said efforts are already under way to quarantine the area. He said some 900 birds from 26 farms in the region would be killed before the end of today.

(AP/Reuters)