New outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu were confirmed in Russia, Romania and China yesterday, as the EU began a simulation exercise to test how well prepared member states are for a possible influenza pandemic.
The European Commission said it had received confirmation from the Russian authorities that the deadly bird flu strain had been identified next to a lake about 220 kilometres south of Moscow.
It is now preparing to extend its ban on poultry exports from Siberia to eastern parts of Russia, which had until the latest outbreak been free of the virus.
The first instance of bird flu in Russia was identified in Siberia in mid-July and it is believed migratory birds from this region carried the disease to Turkey and Romania.
A British laboratory confirmed yesterday a second outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in Romania and is carrying out tests on other samples from that country.
China has reported a fresh outbreak of H5N1. The official Xinhua news agency said 2,600 birds in the northern grasslands had died of the disease.
H5N1 has been responsible for 60 human deaths in Asia since 2003. It is the most deadly strain of avian influenza but it can only pass from birds to humans, making it difficult to spread among people. However, scientists fear that the virus could mutate in the future, enabling it to pass between people and creating an influenza pandemic.
The commission, which is leading efforts to co-ordinate a response to the spread of bird flu, yesterday began the first stage of an EU-wide simulation exercise. This initial stage focused on testing communication networks among member states.
"It is an exercise that involves all member states . . . It is designed to test the security of communications of our European networks in case of a major public health emergency," said a health commission spokesman, who refused to give a date for the next stage of the simulation exercise.
The exercise, which is code-named Common Ground, is expected within 10 weeks. It will be co-ordinated by Britain's Health Protection Agency and will focus on decision-making at the command centre and desk-based level across the EU, rather than any "real-world" mobilisation of emergency services on the ground.
EU member states continue to take different approaches to the threat of bird flu contamination. Germany decided yesterday to confine all live poultry to their pens to prevent them from coming into contact with wild birds possibly infected with H5N1.
The measure is being introduced due to the close proximity to Germany of the new virus outbreak in Russia, said a spokeswoman of the Saxony-Anhalt agriculture ministry. It will initially take effect until December 15th, she added.
Earlier this week, Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan said she was not prepared to order poultry to be kept indoors. Instead, the Government is setting up an early detection system to check for an outbreak of bird flu.
Britain said yesterday it plans to buy enough vaccine to protect the entire population. Chief medical officer Liam Donaldson said vaccine manufacturers are being invited to tender contracts to supply 120 million doses, enough for two shots per person. However, he said a vaccine could not be created until a new virus became known.
The European Commission was still awaiting confirmation last night that an outbreak of bird flu in Greece was the H5N1 strain. The tests are due to be completed before the end of the week, a commission spokesman said.
As tests continued on six young swans found dead in Co Wicklow on Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture said it believed the birds were poisoned.