Duck deaths spark fears of European bird flu outbreak

FEARS mounted last night that a deadly strain of bird flu has arrived in Europe, following news that authorities are examining the deaths of domestic ducks in Romania.

Scientists, fearful the virus may mutate and cause a human flu pandemic, are carrying out tests on the three ducks, which died in eastern Romania.

Romanian Agriculture Ministry spokesman Adrian Tibu said it is strongly suspected that tests on the ducks, being carried out in Britain, will confirm they were infected by the killer H5N1 strain of virus.