Fourth outbreak of bird flu threatens Moscow

According to Russian authorities a fourth outbreak of the H5N1 bird-flu virus has been discovered in suburban Moscow.

Dead domestic poultry were found in the Taldom area north of the city on the weekend where nine birds are reported to have died from the disease.

The village is now under quarantine following confirmation of the presence of the deadly virus.

Russian officials say the three other outbreaks occurred in the west and south of Moscow in the Odintsovo, Domodedovo and Podolsk districts.

This latest outbreak to be recorded is the closest so far to the Russian capital.

The areas concerned have been disinfected and those who were in close contact with the infected poultry are under observation but as yet no one is reported to be sick.

An outdoor poultry market in Moscow from which the infected bird appear to have been bought, has been closed and experts say they expect more outbreaks to occur.

According to the World Health Organization, Russia had its first reported cases of the H5N1 strain in Siberia in 2005 and since it reappeared in Asia in late 2003, the virus has killed at least 167 people worldwide and has been responsible one way or another for the death of millions of birds.

Although the strain remains primarily a disease of birds which is quite difficult for people to catch, experts are concerned that should the virus acquire the ability to mutate and pass between humans, a pandemic will occur with the potential to kill millions.