Bird flu feared to have reached Nordic region; Finland to expedite regulations

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Officials in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden issued orders on Wednesday that poultry must be kept indoors. The orders came after reports came in that the dangerous strain of avian influenza had reached areas near the Nordic region.
      Officials in Germany confirmed on Wednesday that the feared H5N1 strain of bird flu had been the cause of death of swans found on the island of Rügen, north-east of Rostock.
      "I would not be at all surprised if the virus already were in Sweden", said Swedish virologist Björn Olsen on Wednesday.
     
Rügen lies less than 100 kilometresacross the Baltic Sea from the Swedish Skåne region, where most of the country's poultry production takes place.
      Dead swans were also found on the Danish island of Bornholm on Wednesday, and more than 200 people reported sightings in Falster, Lolland, and Zealand.
      Danish ornithologists noted, however, that at this time of the year many birds normally die for several different reasons.
      A number of cases, both confirmed and unconfirmed, have been reported at least in Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria.
     
In Finland, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry prepared to bring forward a decree ordering that all poultry in areas at risk should be kept inside. Areas at risk include 160 communities which get large numbers of water fowl during the bird migration each spring.
      The regulations were originally to have taken effect on March 15th, and should continue through the end of May.
      Now the rules will take effect already at the beginning of March, making it possible to see to it that precautions are in place before the spring migration begins, notes Matti Aho of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
      Officials have long had specific plans for bird flu that they have both drawn up and tested.
      "Who is to be called, where to get disinfectant, where there is a digging machine, and so on", Aho describes the plans.
      Today, Thursday, the state plan for preparations for the veterinary aspects of the possible bird flu outbreak will be presented to the permanent secretaries of various ministries, according to the previously agreed-upon timetable.
     
Now the actions to be implemented at individual poultry farms are the most important, as that is how the spread of the disease to domesticated birds is to be prevented.
      To this end, Aho says that it is important to prevent domesticated birds from coming into contact with wild birds that might have the virus.
      The guidelines give specific instructions on how to react to observations of possible bird flu.
      Provincial veterinarians will be allowed to grant permission to deviate from the orders to keep birds indoors only in exceptional situations. This could take place if keeping the birds indoors would significantly hurt their well-being.
     
Aho emphasises that the actions are aimed at dealing with the bird flu that has spread to wild birds. Bird flu can also spread to humans, but this requires very close contact between people and poultry.
      If large numbers of dead birds are found in the wild in Finland, officials want to hear the reports, and to investigate the cases, Aho says. The reports are to be given to municipal and provincial veterinary officials.
      Liisa Sihvonen, a senior official of the Research Institute for Veterinary Medicine and Foodstuffs (EELA), said in a television interview that officials do not expect people to take action with respect to pets. She nevertheless recommends keeping cats indoors if bird flu spreads to Finland.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Avian flu coming to Finland in spring along with migratory birds (14.2.2006)

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