Information received on 4 August 2006 from Dr Evgueny A. Nepoklonov, Head of the Main Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Moscow:

Report date: 4 August 2006.

Precise identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1.

During 2006, in Siberian Federal District, avian influenza was reported in private backyards in Altaj, Tomsk, Omsk and Novosibirsk regions.

In Tomsk region, 2 outbreaks were registered, one of them in domestic pigeons.

On 31 July 2006, one outbreak of avian influenza was still active in Tomsk region. No new outbreaks of the disease have been reported since 5 July 2006.

In Tyva Republic, wild birds were found dead due to avian influenza.

The national veterinary services and the state service for food are controlling the situation in the infected territories.