An epidemic of the deadly virus broke out in five Siberian and 11 southern regions this year, resulting in the deaths and culling of about 1.5 million birds. And a regional branch of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight said the most dangerous strain of the disease had been identified in a region more than 1,500 miles east of Moscow.
"Lab tests showed H5N1 strain in wild fowl on 14 lakes in the Omsk Region," a representative said.
But the representative said all outbreaks of the virus among domestic fowl had been eradicated and quarantine restrictions lifted across Siberia.
The disease, which scientists fear could mutate into a form that passes between humans and spark a global pandemic, has spread worldwide since it was first spotted in Asia in 2003 and has claimed dozens of human lives. No human fatalities have been reported in Russia.
