EU says satisfied with Hungary bird flu probe

BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (Reuters) The European Commission today said today it was satisfied with investigations carried out by Hungary into the origin of the lethal strain of H5N1 bird flu found in that country and a possible link to a case in Britain.

''We are satisfied with the Hungarian investigations and are happy they have acted accordingly,'' a Commission spokesman said.

''They told us at a meeting which also included British representatives that they had carried out tests at two Bernard Matthews plants outside of the one where bird flu had been found in Hungary and that there was no suspicion of it there.'' Hungary also said it did not suspect bird flu in any other area of the country and would provide the necessary documentation later today, the spokesman said.

A case of H5N1 was discovered in southeast Hungary last month. Investigations are being carried out into whether it was connected to a similar outbreak in Suffolk, England discovered in early February.

The final results of whether the two cases are directly linked are also expected later today.

REUTERS DKA KP1736