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SWINE FLU

Swine flu outbreak in Salzburg clinic

Four cases of swine flu have been confirmed at a medical clinic in Großgmain, Salzburg.

Published: 1 February 2016 10:59 CET

Swine flu outbreak in Salzburg clinic

Image of the H1N1 influenza virus. Photo: CDC Influenza Laboratory.

Clinic director Johann Altenberger confirmed on Sunday that out of 20 influenza patients, four have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

He said that it was not an aggressive form of the virus and that “all safety precautions” are being taken. The patients with swine flu have been isolated and clinic employees are wearing face masks to protect against infection.

Relatives and friends of patients have been banned from visiting the clinic.

At least 50 people are reported to have died of swine flu in Russia this year and there has also been an outbreak in Ukraine, where the virus has killed around 60 people. An outbreak in Iran has reportedly killed 112 people since December.

Swine flu first appeared in Mexico in 2009 and rapidly spread around the world.

Denmark to rebuild border fence due to wild animal deaths

Wild boar crossing a street in Poland. File photo: Agencja Gazeta/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

A number of wild animals have become unintended casualties after becoming stuck on the fence. A new type of wire mesh will be installed to prevent future occurrences, Jyllands-Posten reports.

The section of fencing to be replaced is 2.5 kilometres long, the newspaper writes.

While the new fencing must continue to keep wild boar out of Denmark, it must also ensure that other animals such as deer do not stuck on the fence and netting, which can result in a slow and painful death.

The Danish Nature Agency (Naturstyrelsen) is responsible for the purchase of the new fencing. An initial 600 metres will initially be installed near the Frøslev Mose nature area, where the number of animals is highest, environment minister Lea Wermelin said in a parliamentary committee response.

The remaining 1,900 meters of new fence will be stored and can be added to other stretches in consultation with local citizens and hunters, Jyllands-Posten writes.

The overall aim of the measure is to allow “legal” animals to pass while continuing to block the path of wild boar.

Nature Agency forest official Bent Rasmussen told local media Jydske Vestkysten that three dead animals, all types of deer, have so far been found in the fence.

“Compared to other fencing systems across Denmark, that's not so bad at all,” Rasmussen said, while also recognizing the need to prevent more deaths.

“It is a disaster for the individual animal. And none of us think it’s not terrible to see the pictures of animals hanging in that way,” he said.

The 70-kilometre fence was erected last year as a measure against the spread of swine flu, at a cost of 45 million kroner, less than initially projected. The update is expected to cost 200,000 kroner.

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