Bird flu suspected in southern Hungary

BUDAPEST, Jan 22 (Reuters) Five geese found dead in southeastern Hungary are being tested for suspected bird flu, an Agriculture Ministry official said today.

The dead birds are being tested in Budapest and come from a large farm in the southeastern county of Csongrad where about 40 geese had fallen sick and some had died, Farming Ministry Secretary of State Fulop Benedek told national news agency MTI.

Veterinarians who saw the birds said the suspicion of bird flu was justified.

Hungarian authorities set up a protected zone around the farm and informed all international organisations concerned, Benedek said.

Hungary culled a million birds after the highly infectious H5N1 strain of bird flu was contracted by domestic poultry last year.

Reuters MQA RN0055