Bio-terrorism a suspect in Moscow Bird Flu Outbreak - veterinary official
MOSCOW - Bio-terrorism must not be discarded as a cause of an outbreak of bird flu at Moscow's poultry market, but this should be tackled by the Federal Security Service and other law enforcement services," chief veterinary official of the Moscow region, Valery Sitnikov, told Interfax on Sunday.
18 February 2007
2 minute read
The regional veterinary services have almost no doubts that the deadly illness came from Moscow's poultry market, Sitnikov said.
"The birds that contracted the disease on the poultry market could have infected other fowl. Bird flu symptoms appear two-three days following infection, which can be seen from what is happening. The first decorative hen was bought on February 9. It died on February 11. In the second case, several hens, bought on February 11, died on February 13," he said.
"The management of the poultry market for some reasons have failed to block the arrival of birds infected by the virus. I don't rule out bio-terrorism. The Federal Security Service and other law enforcement agencies must have their say," the official said.
"The birds that contracted the disease on the poultry market could have infected other fowl. Bird flu symptoms appear two-three days following infection, which can be seen from what is happening. The first decorative hen was bought on February 9. It died on February 11. In the second case, several hens, bought on February 11, died on February 13," he said.
"The management of the poultry market for some reasons have failed to block the arrival of birds infected by the virus. I don't rule out bio-terrorism. The Federal Security Service and other law enforcement agencies must have their say," the official said.
