The head of the veterinary department at Georgia's Agriculture Ministry said that the deadly strain H5N1 causing the avian flu was detected among the wild swans in Georgia.
Jambul Maglakelidze told the press that bird flu has entered Georgia and has confirmed it after a series tests done on wild swans. These birds are found near the Black Sea coast which borders Turkey. Laboratory tests on these wild swans have also been positive and have established the existence of the H5N1 bird flu virus in that area.The first avian flu case was confirmed in Georgia, which borders Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. These swans carrying the deadly virus are found in a village, Adzhara, a semi-autonomous region not far from the Turkish city of Trabzon.
Officials have taken various precautionary measures and the President Mikhail Saakashvili has declared a state of emergency in this area.
Domestic birds and swans were being culled in the area around the village where the first case of the avian flu was detected.
