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Finland tries to contain bird flu outbreak

Xinhua, December 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Finland launched protective measures after the first cases of bird flu H5H8 were confirmed this week, Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) said on Friday.

Evira said in a press release that laboratory tests attributed the death of peacocks at a bird exhibit on the Aaland islands and deaths of wild tufted ducks in the southwestern archipelago to H5N8.

The authority has established 10-km wide protective zones around locations where dead birds were found. Within the zones, all poultry farms will be inspected and transfer of poultry restricted.

Poultry farms must enforce disease prevention measures.

Besides direct contact between birds, the virus can be transmitted on shoes and clothing as well.

The National Institute for Health and Welfare has notified the public that the risks of human infection are minute. The variant of H5N8 now spreading in Finland has not been reported as having caused human infections. Endit