Virus-carrying birds in Greece have apparently increased the risk of infection in Cyprus
MIGRATORY birds may well bring the bird flu virus to Cyprus following its discovery in Greece, regional World Health Organisation adviser on infectious diseases, Bernard Dus Ganter said yesterday.
He also said Russia, Kazakhstan and Romania were also at risk.
Authorities in Greece have found a suspicious case of bird flu on the island of Chios. After tests were carried out on a private turkey farm, it was revealed that a turkey was suffering from type H5 of the flu.
Meanwhile, the 25 member-states of the EU held a conference yesterday to discuss bird flu. Before the conference, Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said that all precautions had been taken and that if the disease reaches European grounds the proper measures will be taken to deal with it. He added that European public should not panic. He later told the 25 representatives that the appearance of bird flu in northeastern Europe does not increase the chances of a pandemic.
Giorgos Neophytou, head of Veterinary Services in Cyprus said that the Chios incident increases the chances of bird flu reaching Cyprus. A major panic, however, is unjustified as the flu is not easily transmitted and he assured the public that the public services are prepared for a possible attack.
“The following months are dangerous as they are the months when migratory birds arrive in Cyprus,” he said.
As for the precautions that need to be taken by private bird owners, Neophytou said “poultry owners have been requested to confine their birds to closed and covered places. They have been instructed to keep different types of birds separate from each other as some carry the virus and other are susceptible to it.”
Though the interaction of birds could create a hazard for the public, Neophytou says that the flu by itself is not easily transmitted. “People can protect themselves by following simple hygiene measures,” he said.
Minister of health, Andreas Gavielides has announced that on top of the 60,000 flu vaccines that have already been obtained, there are another 20,000 on the way, excluding the 5,000 owned by private clinics.
These, he added, will be administered when necessary, not as measure of precaution.
“The vaccinations will be administered to the high-risk unit of the public who are in the greatest danger. We should not all panic and seek vaccinations against the flu,” said Gavrielides.
Head of the Pharmaceutical Companies Union, Avgoustinos Potamitis said that Cyprus wasn’t quick enough in seeking the relevant medicines, which won’t be available until mid 2006.
He said yesterday that responses from the two main pharmaceutical companies were not good.
“The first company said that it was impossible to provide Cyprus with the medicines during 2005 and the second said that they would make great efforts in order to provide even small amounts of the medicines within the year 2005.”
Nikos Nouris, head of the pharmacy Owner’s Union says that many members of the public have requested vaccination. But he insists that the vaccines should only be administered if needed. “We don’t have enough vaccines. We need to administer the vaccines to people that need them the most.”
Vaccines will have effect until following May.
Pantelis Hadjiyiannos of the Game Service said that the hunting season will carry on as normal, starting on 30 October unless the EU instructs otherwise.
