Bird flu threat nests in Britain

Bird flu threat nests in Britain

Risk of the potentially deadly flu strain discovered in Turkey and Romania reaching Britain has gripped the country despite government assurances that the situation is under control and there is no need to panic.

Britain's chief veterinary officer at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Debby Reynolds, said clearly that the UK was at a risk since the avian influenza found in Turkey and Romania was 'highly pathogenic'.

The European Union corroborated on Thursday that the avian influenza found in Turkey was 'H5N1', which was quite harmful for humans as it could set off a menacing epidemic and kill thousands of people.

As Markos Kyprianou, EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner said, “We have received now confirmation that the virus found in Turkey is an avian flu H5N1 virus. There is a direct relationship with viruses found in Russia, Mongolia and China. It is a highly pathogenic and aggressive virus and we in the European Union have to deal with that.”

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However, the British government asserted that it was trying its level best to prevent imported birds from entering the country with the bird flu virus. The EU has prohibited import of poultry, live birds as well as feathers from Romania following the detection of the lethal H5N1 virus there. The ban could extend upto April.

Meanwhile, continuous tests and analysis are being carried out by scientists in Turkey where dead birds from a Kiziksa farm in north-west turkey are being examined for the strain. Kyprianou coaxed states of the EU to brace themselves against the possible bird flu virus by building up adequate stocks of anti-viral drugs, saying “What is important is that it does become a priority for all member states and that they make an investment for preparing for this event.”

Even hunters in Britain are now permitted by the government to gun down any amount of birds in the bid to battle the avian virus. Hunters have additionally been provided with bird flu testing kits by government veterinary authorities, so that dead birds can be tested for the strain.

However, the H5N1 virus might not be attacking humans very easily, as Europe has yet not reported any casualties due to the virus. In Asia though, 117 people have been afflicted with the flu in the past couple years, out of which 60 have died. A majority of the people affected were workers at poultry farms.

Commissioner Kyprianou further informed that the EU was evaluating necessary precautionary methods like cautioning people from moving to countries infected with the flu, so that visits to farms and contact with wild birds etc. could be kept at bay.