Bird Flu Outbreak Kills 2,000 Wild Cranes In Israel

Bird flu in Israel: In addition to the 2,000 dead, another 10,000 are believed to be infected, said a specialist at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

A bird flu outbreak has killed more than 2,000 wild cranes on a reserve in northern Israel, an unusually high toll for the seasonal flu, the parks authority said Sunday.

In addition to the 2,000 dead, another 10,000 are believed to be infected, Ohad Hatsofe, a specialist at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, told news agency AFP.

The virus affects Israel annually, but this year's outbreak is much larger than previous years, said Uri Naveh, a senior scientist at the authority.

Naveh described the number of dead cranes as "exceptional".