Deadly bird flu found in Denmark

Two wild ducks have tested positive in neighbouring Sweden

The first case of the deadly bird flu strain H5N1 has been confirmed in a wild buzzard in Denmark.

The Ministry for Consumer and Family Affairs said the dead bird had tested positive after being found near Naestved, south of Copenhagen.

It comes a day after Sweden said tests showed two wild ducks found on its east coast carried H5N1.

Danish authorities have set up quarantine and surveillance zones around where the buzzard was found.

The Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research said on Thursday a sample from the tests on the buzzard would be sent to the EU laboratory in the UK for final verification.

But it confirmed in a statement the H5N1 virus had been found.

Poultry inspection

Naestved is about 70km (44 miles) south of Copenhagen on the island of Zealand, in a wetland area where there are many migrating birds.

The 3km (two-mile) quarantine zone and 10km (six-mile) surveillance zone were put in place on Wednesday, after it was announced the H5 bird flu subtype had been detected.

Authorities have ordered that poultry and eggs must not be transported out of the area and domestic birds inside the zones must be kept indoors.

Hunting has been banned within the zones, and an inspection of all poultry in the quarantine zone will take place.

The H5N1 virus can be caught by humans who handle infected birds, but it is not yet known to have passed from one person to another.

However, experts fear the virus could mutate to gain this ability, and in its new form trigger a flu pandemic that could kill millions.

It has been found in a number of European countries - from Greece to France.

The strain has also been found in cats in Austria and Germany.