The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in Lower Saxony, the sixth German state to be reached by the virus, the state agriculture ministry said yesterday.

THREE more wild birds in north-eastern Germany have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, authorities said yesterday, bringing to 117 the total number of infected birds found in the region.

Deadly H5N1 bird flu has been found in wild birds in a second German state, authorities said today.

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found in domestic birds for the first time in Germany, a state spokeswoman said today.

German tests confirmed that 10 more wild birds found dead on a northern island had the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, the federal animal health institute said today.

Three German states today required farmers to keep their poultry in closed sheds or cages in an attempt to protect them from exposure to migratory birds that could spread bird flu from Russia.

The European Union Constitution cleared its final legislative hurdle in Germany today, with the upper house of parliament overwhelmingly approving the charter, two days before French voters have their say on the document in a referendum.

Authorities in eastern Germany cleaning up from disastrous flooding have been presented with deadlier hazards – Second World War ammunition left behind by the receding waters.