20.03.2015

Swedish authorities said they had discovered H5N8 avian influenza in dead swans found dead in Stockholm.
Ten mute swans found dead in central Stockholm (two batches of five swans each) were post-mortem examined and tested for avian influenza virus as part of routine surveillance.
The first five examined were all negative for avian influenza virus and post-mortem exam followed by chemical analysis confirmed lead poisoning. The last five were all positive for influenza A virus (matrix-gene positive). None had macroscopic lesions suggesting highly pathogenic avian influenza infection, whereas macroscopic lesions suggesting possible lead poisoning were found in four, and lesions suggesting traumatic injury found in the fifth.
Two of the birds were positive for H5 and were subsequently typed as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8.
Since November, Germany, the Netherlands, Britain, Hungary and Italy have all been hit by the H5N8 avian influenza strain.