Germany says H5N1 bird flu confirmed in dead swans

BERLIN: Germany said on Wednesday further tests had confirmed Tuesday's preliminary findings that two dead swans found on a Baltic Sea beach were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.   

Reinhard Kurth, head of the Robert Koch Institute, said there was no longer any doubt that the two dead swans found recently on the Baltic island of Ruegen had been infected. The findings confirmed a preliminary test carried out on Tuesday.    

"Unfortunately it has been confirmed that the swans were infected with H5N1 from Asia," Kurth, who heads the institute, told German television. "We have no doubts whatsoever anymore."