Bird Flu Kills 21 Pelicans in Srebarna Nature Reserve

Silistra, on the Danube, March 26 (BTA) - Laboratory tests
confirmed that bird flu was the cause of death for 21 pelicans
in the Srebarna Nature Reserve (Northeast Bulgaria), said on
Thursday the Director of the Silistra Food Safety Regional
Directorate, Dr. Sebahtin Halid.

The birds were removed from the pelican colony on Tuesday by a
team of the reserve's security guards and experts of the
Regional Food Safety Directorate.

Two protection zones have been designated. The first one covers
a three-km long perimeter surrounding the outbreak area. The
second zone covers a perimeter of ten km and is a surveillance
area, which includes Silistra and the villages of Vetren,
Aydemir, Lambrinovo, Sitovo, Popina and Polyana. Restrictions
have been introduced for transporting birds and hunting wild
birds in the area. The authorities will monitor for other cases
of sick or dead birds and any infected domestic birds will be
destroyed.