European Union authorities have confirmed the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu in a sample taken from a bird from northern Cyprus, the European Commission said today.
The confirmation was the latest sign that the virus, so far found mostly in Asia, was spreading westwards to the edges of Europe. Two people have died from the disease in Turkey, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
"The European Commission and the Turkish authorities have been informed by the Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza at Weybridge of the high pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a sample taken from the area not under the effective control of the government of Cyprus," the EU's executive said in a statement.
It said it had banned the import of live animals or animal products from the Turkish Cypriot enclave into the EU, and added that it would be sending two experts to the area to investigate.
"The EU would be ready to assist with surveillance if needed. In accordance with a European Commission decision, the Cypriot authorities have taken all necessary measures including placing poultry indoors," it added.
Bird flu has killed at least 83 people since it re-emerged in late 2003, according to WHO figures.
Experts believe the H5N1 virus is contracted through close contact with infected birds, but fear that the virus may mutate to enable it to spread easily among humans, sparking a pandemic that could cause millions of deaths.