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French bird flu scare evaporates French bird flu scare evaporates
(about 4 hours later)
Veterinary experts in France say 4,000 chickens on a north-eastern farm did not die of bird flu.Veterinary experts in France say 4,000 chickens on a north-eastern farm did not die of bird flu.
The authorities were alerted on Monday about possible bird flu after the mysterious mass deaths of chickens on a farm at Sarrey, in Haute-Marne region. The chickens probably suffocated when a ventilation problem caused overheating in the chicken shed at Sarrey, in the Haute-Marne region, the experts said.
The authorities carried out tests on Monday, fearing bird flu after the mysterious mass deaths of chickens.
The farmer said his flock of 7,000 chickens appeared healthy on Saturday morning, but by evening 4,000 had died.The farmer said his flock of 7,000 chickens appeared healthy on Saturday morning, but by evening 4,000 had died.
The cause of death is still being investigated. France is the biggest poultry producer in Western Europe.The cause of death is still being investigated. France is the biggest poultry producer in Western Europe.
Poultry producers feared their Christmas sales could be badly affected if bird flu was confirmed.Poultry producers feared their Christmas sales could be badly affected if bird flu was confirmed.
However, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says one theory is that the birds may have died from overheating when the ventilation for the chicken shed failed.
Samples from the Sarrey farm were analysed at France's main testing laboratory in Ploufrangon.Samples from the Sarrey farm were analysed at France's main testing laboratory in Ploufrangon.
The French authorities sealed off the farm as a precaution.The French authorities sealed off the farm as a precaution.
In March, the farm itself was used as the site of a government exercise on how to contain avian flu - when France was on high alert after migrating birds carrying the virulent strain H5N1 infected one poultry farm.In March, the farm itself was used as the site of a government exercise on how to contain avian flu - when France was on high alert after migrating birds carrying the virulent strain H5N1 infected one poultry farm.
Millions of birds have died or been destroyed as a result of outbreaks in dozens of countries since the H5N1 bird flu strain emerged in South-East Asia in 2003, before spreading to Europe and Africa.Millions of birds have died or been destroyed as a result of outbreaks in dozens of countries since the H5N1 bird flu strain emerged in South-East Asia in 2003, before spreading to Europe and Africa.