Italy and Greece reported the outbreak of dreaded H5N1 bird flue virus in wild birds. Non-migratory swans in Sicily, Italy and three migratory swans in Greece were found to have died due to the virus. Concern over bird flu is causing heavy damages on the poultry business in Italy leading to 30,000 layoffs and Euro 550 million in financial loses. It is unusual for swans to migrate from the South. It is speculated that migratory patterns may have shifted to the south due to exceptionally cold weather in the Balkans.