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Lethal bird flu hits Turkey; Europe on alert
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-14 08:41 Croatian health authorities on Thursday began to take samples from wild birds
which will be tested for the possible presence of the deadly avian flu virus.
The presence of the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu in Europe does not mean
there is an increased risk of a pandemic, Roberto Bertollini, director of the
European center for health and environment of the World Health Organization,
said.
"We are not in the presence of a human pandemic and the fact that the H5N1
virus has arrived at Europe's doors does not mean that we need a change in
strategy," Bertollini said from his base in Rome, asking the media "not to
become alarmists."
Swiss pharmacists decried the media attention paid in their country to the
antiviral drug Tamiflu, saying there was no evidence that it would be effective
if the bird flu virus mutated.
An official of their association said it was
irresponsible to show pictures of dead birds as that just created panic.
While avian influenza primarily affects birds, the H5N1 strain has killed
more than 60 people in Southeast Asia since 2003.
Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos on Thursday won more than 17 million dollars from
international donors to help fight the virus. The pledges came as a top-level
delegation of US and global health officials was touring Southeast Asia,
searching for ways to curb the spread of the H5N1 virus.
Scientists have warned that millions of people around the world could die if
that virulent form of the virus crosses with human flu strains to become highly
contagious among people.
In Ankara, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag urged calm. "The well-prepared
and timely intervention of the agriculture ministry has brought the bird flu
case ... under control," he said.
A senior official underlined that no human cases have been reported in Turkey
so far, and the health ministry has ordered fresh stocks of Tamiflu in a bid to
prevent a flu pandemic.
But in a sign of public alarm, both Turks and Romanians were reported to be
flocking to pharmacies in increasing numbers in search of Tamiflu or other
flu-busting medicines.
In Bulgaria, farm minister Nihat Kabil said Thursday that initial tests --
ordered after the suspected outbreaks in Romania and Turkey, and after suspect
bird deaths were reported near the Romanian border -- had so far proved
negative.
The Greek government meanwhile announced plans to hold a conference of health
ministers from Balkan and Black Sea countries next month to coordinate response
measures to the avian flu threat.
Tests on four suspect migratory birds discovered on cargo in the port of
Keratsini, near Athens, proved negative on Thursday, officials said.
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