October 19, 2005

EU calls for global coordination against bird flu

EU foreign ministers called for global coordination against bird flu during an emergency meeting in Luxembourg, following the recent case of the disease found on a Greek island.

EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou said evidence suggested migratory birds spread the virus, and the possible risk to EU countries could not be ignored.

East of the Danube Delta in Romania, antibodies were recently found in a swan's blood three days after the first bird flu cases were found, the country's government said.

Meanwhile, Kenya's government has banned domestic and wild bird imports from countries confirmed to be hit by bird flu, and put veterinary experts on high alert to prevent the virus entering the country. Sanitary permits would also be required for poultry imports from unaffected countries, and thorough customs inspections would be done, the government said.

Kenya's measures were implemented as a precaution, although no cases have been detected in the country so far, the government said. This also followed concerns that migratory birds flying from Europe to Africa during the winter might spread the virus to the continent, in light of the recent European cases.

East African countries especially Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania were considered to be at risk of bird flu, as millions of migratory birds flew to the region from Europe during winter.

Meanwhile, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that the virus could reach Africa by December or next spring.

Drug maker Roche said it would raise production of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu. The company also planned to open a new site in the US to produce the drug.