16.02.2006

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was confirmed in the Russian region of Dagestan, where hundreds of thousands of birds were found dead at poultry farms.
The two incidents of mass deaths in Dagestan occurred about two weeks ago and involved some 345,000 birds. Dagestan authorities initially blamed Newcastle disease, but tests were conducted to determine the cause of death.
Authorities confirmed H5N1 among the birds.