Bird Flu Breaks Out In Southern Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine -- A new outbreak of bird flu has struck southern Ukraine this week, the country's Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement Friday.

H5N1 virus
The outbreak was detected in the village of Rifne on the Crimean peninsula, the same region that was struck in late 2005.

A total of 153 birds died suddenly during Jan. 15-17 at a private farm where more than 25,000 poultry birds were kept, the statement said.

DNA of the H5N1 virus was found by tests conducted late Thursday, the ministry said.

"The village has been sealed off, and guards have been posted at entry points and a quarantine is in place. All the birds are being incinerated," the ministry said.

Source: Xinhua News