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Bird Flu Antibodies Found in Migrant Birds in Siberia

by VR Sreeraman on Jul 18 2007 8:25 PM

Scientists have discovered bird flu antibodies in migrant birds in five Siberian regions, a spokesman for a veterinary regulator said here Tuesday.

"Out of over 4,000 samples taken in the area this year, samples from 50 wild birds were found to contain genetic material of the A-H5 virus and antibodies in their blood serum," he said.

The spokesman said the presence of antibodies meant that either the birds had survived avian influenza or remained infected but it had not spread in an open form. He said no bird flu cases had been registered this year. "About six million poultry are currently in high risk areas. Nearly 4.6 million of them have been vaccinated and over 2.3 million revaccinated," he said.

Source-IANS
SRM /M


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