H5 Spreads In Romania And, Possibly, Greece

H5 is spreading in Romania, with new cases showing up across the Danube Delta region, including one near the Ukraine border. Romanian Agriculture Minister Gheorghe Flutur had this to say today: "A swan tested positive with (bird flu) antibodies close to the border with Ukraine, near the village of C.A. Rosetti [10km from the Ukraine border]. A few swans in Maliuc and a wild duck in Ceamurlia de Jos also tested seropositive."

So far, 21,000 birds have been killed in the area originally affected; however, it is now clear that AI is not under control in Romania. And, because of the vast numbers of migratory birds that traverse the Delta region, it is almost a certainty that the remainder of Europe will soon be covered by the pandemic region, as well as Africa.

Experts with the World Health Organisation (WHO) present in Romania to support Romanian authorities in implementing the National Action Plan regarding prevention of a flu pandemic stated that for the time being the virus is present only in birds, not in humans. WHO experts once again urged the population in affected areas to avoid contacts with dead birds. The same appeal was addressed to journalists in the area. "For the time being, the bird flu is only a veterinary situation, and it is important that human health and veterinary authorities work together," Guenael Rodier, special adviser for infectious disease of the WHO Regional Directorate, pointed out. WHO specialists believe the absence of human infection is encouraging and congratulated authorities for the measures taken so far. "So far the measures have been good, and as we work we will adjust them to the given situation," the WHO official added. (Nine O'Clock)

Meanwhile, Greece is still conducting tests to determine if an AI infected turkey on the Aegean island of Chios has H5N1. It is also being reported that there is a suspected outbreak on the Greek mainland, near the Turkish border. There are also reports in Romania media of thousands of dead birds being found in Macedonia near the border with Bulgaria and of a possible find in Croatia. Ukraine and Moldova denied rumours that AI had been detected in their countries. However, the governments of Romania, Ukraine and Moldova decided on Monday evening to set up a joint task force to coordinate efforts to detect and eradicate AI. The Romanian Agriculture Ministry will send to Ukraine and Moldova 1,000 test kits each for the detection of the AI.

So far, cooperation in Europe and the bordering countries has been pretty good. Of course, at the moment, the disease is only affecting birds. Let us hope that, in the vent of a mutation to a strain infecting the human population braodly, this cooperation and coordination does not fall apart.

(Sources: Nine O'Clock (Romania), Reuters)