Bulgarian strain of bird flu harmless for humans
August 9th, 2006
Confirming preliminary tests, the European Union’s reference avian influenza laboratory in Weybridge, UK, says that the virus found in dead poultry from the Bulgarian village of Slanchogled has proved innocuous to humans. It seems the birds had been infected with a combination of mild avian influenza and Newcastle disease. It is none of the deadly strains, like H5N1 or H7N1, as British scientists declare. Samples taken from the diseased birds in Bulgaria have been implanted in chicken embryos and research will continue until a correct identification of the virus strain. The outbreak from the village of Slanchogled, in southern Bulgaria, led to the culling of more than 1,000 fowl.