Ukraine confirms new bird flu cases in Crimea

KIEV - Ukraine on Tuesday found the H5 strain of bird flu at three poultry farms in eastern Crimea as the government battles an outbreak of the disease, local officials said.

Mass poultry deaths were detected at the start of the month at three poultry plants in Primorskoe village in Crimea. Officials had initially denied the deaths were caused by bird flu but sent samples for tests.

The test results detected the H5 strain of bird flu, the emergencies ministry in Crimea said.

The H5 strain can be further subdivided into strains. It was unclear whether it was the H5N1 strain which can be deadly to humans.

Ukraine reported its first outbreak of bird flu in a dozen villages in Crimea, a major stopover point for migratory birds, in late November.

In December, Ukraine detected the deadly H5N1 strain in Crimea. Crimea is across the Black Sea from Turkey where bird flu has at least two children since Jan. 1.

The Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry said a failure to maintain sanitary conditions caused the outbreak. Officials said they had destroyed about 98,400 birds at the poultry plants.

- REUTERS