French Ministry of
agriculture has confirmed the presence of a highly pathogenic strain of H5N1
virus on three young swans which died recently in a pond in Assenoucourt
district, in northeastern France, according to a statement issued Thursday by
the ministry.
"Afssa national reference laboratory, a French health and food security
agency, has indeed confirmed the presence of a H5N1 virus, " the ministry said
in a statement, adding "measures put in place since July 3 in the affected area,
namely, the delimitation of a controlled zone and an observation zone around the
pond, are still in force."
Furthermore, French minister for agriculture Michel Barnier, has ordered more
risk prevention measures on the entire metropolitan territory, corresponding to
the shift from the " moderate" level to the "high" level.
In France, bird flu prevention and control system is hinged on continuous
surveillance of wild and domestic birds and on the measures which are
proportional to the level of risk, according to the statement.