Sep 7, 2005

Russia tries to calm fears over bird flu

Russia tried to calm fears over bird flu while the government discussed greater collaboration with the EU against the disease.

Local authorities in Tyumen oblast were expected to lift the quarantine on two more villages, Vlasovo and Vorobievo, soon. The quarantine was already lifted in Krashenevo and Peganovo villages. Although, bird flu outbreaks were recently reported in other regions, this was reportedly a possible sign that Russia might be getting past the worst of the bird flu situation.

A government spokesperson in Russia's Ural region said 38,000 birds had been culled up to 31 August, but no new bird deaths were reported recently. The damage was estimated at 3.46 million rubles.

Authorities also said so far no one who had been in contact with infected poultry was reported to have been down with bird flu.

The government stated that a recent meeting with the European Commission went well, with both sides agreeing on the need to strengthen collaboration in the fight against bird flu.

European fears were not unfounded because many migratory birds in Russia's Siberian region, the country's epicentre of bird flu, were expected to travel westwards into Europe this autumn.

The EU had already banned poultry imports from Russia and Kazakhstan, although it did not import poultry from those regions anyway.

In response, the Russian government in a bid to maintain the reputation of its poultry industry stated that poultry from the Leningrad region conformed to international standards, and were also catered for diplomats.

Feedback from Russia's poultry industry also stated big meat-processing factories in Europe obtained their raw materials worldwide, even from Southeast Asia, where the bird flu outbreaks first started.