A second bird may have been infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Cyprus after a dead bird was found at a lake in Athalassa National Forest Park, a veterinary official said Wednesday.
The bird was found Tuesday and has been sent for testing.
The first case was detected about a week ago, when a visitor to the park spotted a goose that appeared unwell and alerted the Game and Fauna Service.
The first sign of influenza emerged Friday and laboratory identification was completed Monday afternoon, confirming a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. Authorities then activated response protocols and notified the relevant agencies. Officials visited the site Monday and Tuesday, and the second dead bird was found during the latest visit.
