Bird flu hits Philippines

July 8, 2005

The first known case of bird flu in the Philippines has occurred at an isolated farm in a town just north of the capital Manila, the Philippine government has confirmed.

Agricultural Secretary Arthur Yap said it is not clear whether it is the deadly H5N1 strain responsible for the deaths of more than 50 people in Asia since 2003 but confirmed that a strain of flu, H5, had been found in ducks.

Mr. Yap told a news conference, "It is a low-risk flu strain found in three healthy ducks and the risk to human health is almost nil."

Transportation and sales of live poultry within a three-kilometre radius of the affected farm has been banned by the government.