Russia bird flu could spread to EU - vet official - RUSSIA - A strain of bird flu dangerous to humans that has been found in Siberia could spread to parts of the European Union, a senior Russian veterinary official warned on Monday.

The official from the Russian Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection Service told Reuters that the chances were "very high" that the strain found in the Novosibirsk region could spread to other parts of Siberia.

"There is also a possibility that bird flu could spread to the European Union as (infected) wild birds from China may have been in contact in Russia with birds that will fly on to the Netherlands, France and elsewhere," the official said.

"North America is not safe either, as some birds from Russia fly there, too," said the official who did not wish to be named.

The official said it had been officially confirmed late on Friday that birds in the Novosibirsk region were infected with H5N1 strain of bird flu dangerous to humans and not with H5N2, as had previously been believed.

Source: Reuters - 1st August 2005