Lethal bird flu hits Turkey; Europe on alert
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-14 08:41

Croatian health authorities on Thursday began to take samples from wild birds which will be tested for the possible presence of the deadly avian flu virus.

The presence of the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu in Europe does not mean there is an increased risk of a pandemic, Roberto Bertollini, director of the European center for health and environment of the World Health Organization, said.

"We are not in the presence of a human pandemic and the fact that the H5N1 virus has arrived at Europe's doors does not mean that we need a change in strategy," Bertollini said from his base in Rome, asking the media "not to become alarmists."

Swiss pharmacists decried the media attention paid in their country to the antiviral drug Tamiflu, saying there was no evidence that it would be effective if the bird flu virus mutated.

An official of their association said it was irresponsible to show pictures of dead birds as that just created panic.

While avian influenza primarily affects birds, the H5N1 strain has killed more than 60 people in Southeast Asia since 2003.

Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos on Thursday won more than 17 million dollars from international donors to help fight the virus. The pledges came as a top-level delegation of US and global health officials was touring Southeast Asia, searching for ways to curb the spread of the H5N1 virus.

Scientists have warned that millions of people around the world could die if that virulent form of the virus crosses with human flu strains to become highly contagious among people.

In Ankara, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag urged calm. "The well-prepared and timely intervention of the agriculture ministry has brought the bird flu case ... under control," he said.

A senior official underlined that no human cases have been reported in Turkey so far, and the health ministry has ordered fresh stocks of Tamiflu in a bid to prevent a flu pandemic.

But in a sign of public alarm, both Turks and Romanians were reported to be flocking to pharmacies in increasing numbers in search of Tamiflu or other flu-busting medicines.

In Bulgaria, farm minister Nihat Kabil said Thursday that initial tests -- ordered after the suspected outbreaks in Romania and Turkey, and after suspect bird deaths were reported near the Romanian border -- had so far proved negative.

The Greek government meanwhile announced plans to hold a conference of health ministers from Balkan and Black Sea countries next month to coordinate response measures to the avian flu threat.

Tests on four suspect migratory birds discovered on cargo in the port of Keratsini, near Athens, proved negative on Thursday, officials said.