Bird flu: Russia quarantines 17 villages

The southern Russian region of Dagestan today declared a quarantine in 17 villages after the H5N1 bird flu strain was detected in three poultry farms.

The chief veterinary official, Zaidin Dzhambulatov, said it was forbidden to transport fowl and poultry products from these villages. He added that strict restrictions on access to 10 poultry farms were also in force.

About 500,000 chickens have been destroyed or died in Dagestan this month.

The first two incidents of mass deaths occurred early this month. Dagestan authorities initially blamed Newcastle disease, a common illness among birds that is not a threat to humans. But tests later showed that bird flu was the cause. Authorities today confirmed H5N1 among birds in a third poultry farm.