Virolahti, Finland – Fifteen swans have died from avian influenza โ(bird flu)โฃ in Virolahti, marking an unusually large outbreak for the region, according toโฃ the Finnish Food Agency. The H5N1 virusโฃ is suspected to โขbe the cause, โฃmirroring a wider spread of the disease across Europe and increased cases comparedโฃ to last โyear.
The outbreak in Virolahti is part of a largerโ pattern of bird flu cases recently confirmed in โขFinland, includingโ detections in Pieksรคmรคki and Oulu. While the number of cases โคthis year is higher than in 2023, it remainsโ lower than the over 60 cases reported in 2021.Foodโข Agency special expertโค Tiia Tuupanen suggests a โpossible mutation of theโฃ virus may be contributing toโค the increase โin โคcases observedโข throughout europe.
The virus โฃhas also caused widespread mortality of cranes in Germany, and โฃhas spread to poultry farms in variousโ European countries. Surveillance veterinarians believe other sick or dead birdsโฃ in the Virolahti area likely also carry theโค virus.
bird fluโข doesโ not easily transmit to humans, requiring โคdirect contact withโข infected birds or their secretions. Human infections typically result inโ mild respiratoryโข illness or โขconjunctivitis. Authorities advise the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds โand โto ensureโฃ children and pets do not access them. The firstโ report of the confirmedโ case in Virolahti was published โby โ Kymen Sanomat.