Bird flu virus found in German stone marten

The bird flu virus has been found in a stone marten, a German laboratory said today, indicating the disease has spread beyond cats to another species of mammal.

The Friedrich-Loeffler Institute confirmed the presence of the virus in the marten, a weasel-like animal with a white throat patch, found on the island of Ruegen in north Germany.

The animal was found alive, but was killed after the virus was detected.