October 5, 2005

OIE experts visit Russia to study bird flu situation
 

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recently sent its experts to Russia, with the aim of studying the bird flu situation there among wildlife. The one-week mission would also assess nationwide measures taken to minimise the risk of the disease spreading across countries worldwide.

Russia's laboratory in the Vladimir region would be visited as part of OIE's assessment for it to be included in the international network of OIE reference laboratories.

OIE would also collect samples from wild birds to verify if they carried the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu. In addition, relevant species of wild birds would be listed in order to identify their migration routes. This would allow destination countries to prepare and develop monitoring activities where necessary.

This mission marked the first of a series of missions to Russia, in which OIE would contribute necessary technical and scientific resources in collaboration with the country against bird flu.

Meanwhile, a team of European scientists has visited Novosibirsk to assess the outbreak situation in the Siberian region. The Russian government had invited them as part of a UN Food and Agriculture Organization bird flu programme.

Habitats of migratory birds, especially wild ducks, would be observed, as these were areas at risk of the disease. FAO said the main task of the scientists was to assess the risk of infection for households and poultry farms.

The scientists would then make analyses with the use of state-of-the-art technologies, and collaborate with Russian veterinary experts.