Authorities calls for calm in Greek bird flu state of alert

A woman passes by swans in the town of Stavros, near Thessaloniki in northern Greece. A Greek official called on citizens not to panic but to observe precautions after the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in swans found near the northern city of Salonika.

A Greek official called on citizens not to panic but to observe precautions after the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in swans found near the northern city of Salonika.

"I call on citizens not to panic," the police subprefect of Salonika Ioannis Bikos said following a special meeting of local authorities.

"Calm and the contribution of each person to applying the measures ordained will bring the best results," he said.

A government vet warned that fines would be applied to people who break emergency rules aimed at preventing the virus spreading to farm poultry.

Greeks must "shut up poultry" to prevent them coming into contact with wild birds, veterinary and ministerial adviser Spyros Kyriakis said on public television.