BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A deadly bird flu strain in Turkey and Romania could spread to Britain, the country's chief veterinary officer warns.

    "Confirmation that highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found in Turkey and that avian influenza is now also in Romania is of concern," Debby Reynolds, chief veterinary officer at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said at a news conference Thursday.

    "It shows that there is a risk to the UK."

    The government said it's doing everything possible to prevent imported birds from bringing avian flu into Britain.

    Earlier Thursday, The European Union confirmed that the bird flu virus found in Turkey is the dangerous H5N1 strain that might spark a pandemic.

    The H5N1 bird flu strain does not easily infect humans. No one in Europe so far has died from it. But over the last two years, 117 people in Asia, mostly poultry workers, have caught it -- and 60 of them have died.

    The EU has banned the import of live birds, poultry and feathers from Romania after the discovery of bird flu there. It has also banned the export of live birds and feathers from Turkey since Monday after the virus was discovered there. It announced on Wednesday the ban would be extended until April. Enditem    

    (Agencies)