October 27, 2005

Most WHO European countries have bird flu strategies
 

All but six countries in the WHO's Europe region have submitted plans to respond to a possible bird flu pandemic, officials said Wednesday.

Turkmenistan, Moldova and Macedonia informed 52-member WHO Europe they had not drafted any plans while Russia, San Marino and Monaco have not responded, the UN agency said.

"Addressing this must be a priority," said Marc Danzon, head of WHO Europe. "We will push those who have not responded yet and we will support the three others to make plans."

WHO Europe also includes former Soviet republics.

Danzon said the other 46 countries "are ready to react quickly if there is a pandemic".

WHO and EU experts have been meeting in Copenhagen since Monday to analyse the threat of the bird flu virus mutating into a type that can be spread easily to and between humans.

"The chances of the bird flu strain mutating into a human pandemic virus are much higher in Asia where it is more widespread than in Europe, which only has small pockets of the virus," Danzon said.