Spread of bird flu is a ‘global threat’

THE European Union yesterday declared the spread of bird flu from Asia into the EU a “global threat” requiring international co-operation.

It admittied that Western Europe had vaccine for only 1% of the population.

Western European governments scrambled to buy industrial quantities of flu vaccines and face masks to protect citizens from possible infection.

EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said most of the 25 EU governments lack sufficient stocks of anti-viral drugs designed to boost resistance to the common flu of such risk groups as the elderly, the young, diabetics and others.

He said the EU was working on a deal with the pharmaceutical industry whereby EU governments will increase vaccination and the industry invest in production capacity.

“We have not reached the level of (vaccination) preparedness that we should have,” Mr Kyprianou said.

The EU was investigating a possible Greek outbreak of the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus, which has killed 60 people in Asia. The H5N1 strain has been confirmed in Turkey and Romania.

Macedonian authorities are to quarantine a small village, cull 10,000 chickens and send a sample from a dead chicken to Britain for bird flu testing after an outbreak of a highly contagious but common bird disease.

Romania announced that a swan with bird flu antibodies was discovered near the Ukrainian border. It was not immediately clear if the swan was infected with deadly H5N1 strain.

The World Health Organisation has said although the arrival of the virus in a new location is worrying - because more virus means more opportunities for genetic mutations - it does not mean a human flu pandemic is closer.

Isolated outbreaks that are swiftly controlled pose a minor threat compared with prolonged outbreaks where birds continue to mix with people, as in Asia.

After meeting EU foreign ministers, Kyprianou said the EU will stage a “command post exercise” to test national preparedness plans.

“This is a global threat. We cannot protect ourselves alone. There is a need for international action and international solidarity with countries in Asia.”

The H5N1 strain has swept through poultry populations in Asia since 2003, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds.

There is no human vaccine for the current strain of bird flu, but scientists believe the Tamiflu drug may help humans fight bird flu contraction.

Bird flu’s westward move is caused by migrating fowl. It has intensified fears the virus may mutate into one easily transmitted among humans - which experts fear could provoke a global epidemic that puts millions of lives at risk.

The EU stepped up biosecurity measures and installed early detection systems along migratory paths to prevent contamination of domestic flocks.

Stockpiling vaccines is difficult as flu viruses can mutate quickly.