Poland controls bird flu outbreak

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A Polish government minister said a bird flu outbreak on two farms in central Poland is under control and poses no threat to humans.

Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki said the H5N1 virus was found on two turkey farms in the villages of Uniejewo and Mysliborzyce near Plock, 60 miles northwest of Warsaw, Polish Radio reported Monday.

Sawicki said about 4,000 turkeys were culled in the Plock region and transport of fowl and meat was banned. Disinfection of people and vehicles leaving and entering the region also was ordered.

Ewa Lech, head of the national veterinary service, denied media reports neighboring Lithuania had banned importation of live poultry from Poland.

Lech said officials of the European Union were evaluating Poland's actions in containing the outbreak.

About 1,100 pounds of turkey meat infected with bird flu was found in stores in the Baltic cities of Gdansk and Gdynia, Anna Obuchowska of the Polish sanitary service said. She said inspectors detected the origin of the infected turkey and stopped further transport.