H5N1 bird flu found in domestic birds in Germany

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

The virus was found in a small flock of domestic birds in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the spokeswoman said.

Since the first case was found last week, more than 100 wild birds have been confirmed with the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the state, but it was the first report in Germany of it having crossed over to domestic flocks.

All of the cases so far have been in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, two on the mainland and 101 on the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen. It was not immediately clear where the new cases were found.

Crews have already been culling poultry in the Ruegen area, and 300 army troops have been deployed to aid in the cleanup and disinfection effort.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on all farmers to follow an Agriculture Ministry order to keep their poultry indoors, noting it was the best way to keep the virus from spreading to domestic birds.