03.03.2006

Avian influenza found this week on a poultry farm in Azerbaijan has been confirmed as the H5N1 strain, a top veterinary official said today.
This marks the first time the virus has spread to domestic fowl in the former Soviet nation.
Avian influenza due to highly pathogenic virus subtype H5N1 has been reported in poultry in the following locations:
- Ghiljazi, Khyzy;
- Samedabad, Biljasuvar
The H5N1 virus was initially discovered in wild birds in Azerbaijan last month in an area along the Caspian Sea coast near Baku and has spread to the southwest near the border with Iran.