Bird flu returns to EU as Hungarian case confirmed

The EC confirms the first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in the European Union since last summer.

The European Commission on Monday confirmed the first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in the European Union since last summer, after tests on Hungarian geese proved positive.

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An EU "laboratory has confirmed" the presence of the H5N1 strain which can be deadly to humans, said Philip Tod, spokesman for the European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

The lab in Wybridge, near London, carried out the tests after Hungarian authorities reported the bird flu outbreak among a flock of geese in the southeast of the country.

Tod stressed that the confirmation "has no implications as (safety) measures were already applied on suspicion" of the outbreak being confirmed.