Jan 13, 2006

Romania tightens bird flu safeguards

BUCHAREST - Romania tightened safeguards against bird flu on Friday, boosting disinfection measures on major roads and introducing luggage checks at airports, train stations and sea ports, government officials said.

The Black Sea state has found the avian flu in poultry in 26 villages since October but has recorded no human cases of the disease. Fears the disease may spread to people have increased after the virus killed three children in nearby Turkey .

"We are very concerned about the evolution of the avian flu virus and this is why we must take new measures," director of Romania 's leading virus laboratory Adrian Streinu-Cercel told a news conference.

Romania 's Danube river delta lies on a major migratory route for wild birds which some experts think have brought the bird flu virus to Europe from Asia .

Officials said passangers ' luggage will be checked at major entry points to Romania and disinfectant sprays will be used on additional roads across the country.

Romania does not share a border with Turkey but the Turkish coast is only 200 km (125 miles) away across the Black Sea . "We will check all animals brought into the country," Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said.

Border officials will have checklists to see if travellers enter Romania with bird flu-like symptoms and if they had been in countries with recorded cases of the disease in the previous seven days.

Romania has also prepared a ward in the main virus laboratory in Bucharest with 15 beds for potential bird flu patients, officials said. Similar wards may be opened in seven other cities around the country.

Public health officials will also distribute pamphlets to schools, hospitals, churches and government offices with information about prevention measures.

Bird flu has killed at least 78 people, mostly in Asia , but scientists warn the virus could cause a pandemic that would kill millions of people around the world.

http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L1334690