New bird flu outbreak hits Siberia

NOVOSIBIRSK, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - A new outbreak of bird flu has hit the West Siberian region of Tomsk, the local administration said Tuesday.

A representative said a laboratory analysis of fancy pigeons that died in a village last week revealed the deadly virus.

"All the pigeons and chickens from the courtyard have been culled," the representative said. "The owner who had refused to vaccinate poultry will receive no compensation."

Governor Viktor Kress ordered vaccination as a preventive measure against an epidemic of the disease, which claimed over a million birds in Russia in February-April.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, bird flu was registered in 10 villages in three West Siberian regions in late May.