Deadly bird flu strain found in Slovakia for first time

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected for the first time in Slovakia in two wild birds, its agriculture minister said Thursday.

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected for the first time in Slovakia in two wild birds, the agriculture minister of the country said on Thursday.

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He said that the highly pathogenic form of the virus had been confirmed by veterinary experts on a duck and a falcon found dead at Bratislava and the town of Gabcikovo, some 30 kilometres from the capital.

Samples have been sent to the European Union's central laboratory in Britain for confirmation and results are expected within a few days.