Germany says suspected bird flu not confirmed in final test
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Ducks are being brought away from a poultry farm in Bradenburg, eastern Germany on Saturday, Feb 16, 2013. A case of suspected H5N1 bird flu that had been discovered during initial tests on the farm could not be confirmed in final testing, the state agriculture ministry said on Saturday. -- PHOTO: AP
BERLIN (REUTERS) - A case of suspected H5N1 bird flu that had been discovered during initial tests on a poultry farm in the eastern state of Brandenburg could not be confirmed in final testing, the state agriculture ministry said on Saturday.
The H5N1 virus mainly affects birds but occasionally jumps to people. Experts fear it might mutate into a form that could spread easily among humans, who have no natural immunity to it.
Bird flu is present in Asian countries including China, Cambodia and Indonesia. It has also been reported in wild birds in parts of Europe.
Currently, bird flu can be transmitted from birds to birds, and birds to humans, but not from humans to humans. When it does pass from birds to humans, it is usually fatal.
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