Memo: Statement of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH) was informed by Germany on the finding of a cat infected with the 'Asian strain' of the Avian Influenza virus H5N1 (hereby called H5N1) in the island of Ruegen, where a high number of infected wild birds had been found in the previous weeks. The finding of H5N1 in the cat in question had probably occurred due to its exposure to infected wild birds. The Committee issued a number of precautionary recommendations.