In the Czech Republic the virus was detected following the death of around 1800 birds on two poultry farms in the centre of the country.
In Germany, the disease was confirmed to be in Thuringia, near Saxony, in a black-necked grebe, after a case, two weeks previous, of two swans dying from the virus in Bavaria. And in France the virus was the cause of death for three swans in the Moselle.
These countries are applying the precautionary measures set out under the EU legislation. These measures consist of establishing controlled area and monitoring the area around the positive finding. The Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in the UK is working closely with the national laboratories of these Member States to determine whether the outbreaks were caused by the H5N1.
Earlier this year, in January and February, avian influenza had already been confirmed in Hungary and the United Kingdom, in three poultry farms in total.
The H5N1 virus has been responsible for over 700 reported cases of avian influenza in wild birds in the EU in 2006.
European Commission press release on avian influenza H5N1 in Germany second case (04/07/07)
European Commission press release on avian influenza H5N1 in Germany first case (25/06/07)
European Commission press release on avian influenza H5N1 in Czech Republic (21/06/07)
For more information: DG DANCO website, section Avian Influenza
