February 10, 2006

Greece ready to provide more funds against bird flu

Greece is ready to provide all necessary additional financial assistance to protect against a possible bird flu outbreak in the country, Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas said Thursday.

Doukas said there will be no delay in providing financial support to cover public health requirements and the implementation of further precautionary measures

Earlier Thursday, Greek Agricultural Minister Evangelos Bassiakos said three wild swans found dead near the northern city of Thessaloniki had tested positive for an H5 strain of bird flu.

Samples from the birds will be sent to the European Union reference laboratory in the UK to determine whether the birds had the lethal H5N1 strain, Bassiakos said.

Since Jan 9, Greece has stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of bird flu into the country while a National Epidemic Plan is already in place.