The Romanian government on Wednesday confirmed three more cases of bird flu
among domestic birds in the eastern county of Constanta, Rompres news agency
reported.
The outbreak was reported in three separate villages, bringing the total
number of sites where the virus has been detected in Constanta to nine, the
report said, adding that new suspected cases had also been found in poultry in
southern and eastern Romania.
Local authorities of the three Constanta villages have taken isolation
measures, including culling all poultry in the virus-affected area, disinfecting
henhouses, and vaccinating all villagers.
Agriculture Minister Gheorghe Flutur convened a meeting Wednesday in
Constanta to discuss anti-bird flu measures.
Flutur said it was not surprising to see new cases of bird flu on the Black
Sea coast and in the Danube Delta, for both were on one of the main flight-paths
of migratory birds.
Local governments are to take stricter preventative measures, as it is
unknown where the lethal bird flu will strike next, he added.
He also asked local health authorities to better inform the public,
especially villagers living in remote areas, about the flu.
So far, bird flu has been detected in 38 villages across Romania since the
virus was first found in the Danube Delta last October. No human cases have been
reported in the country.