Finland prepares to vaccinate entire population against avian flu

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In response to a recommendation by the World Health Organization, according to which the avian influenza pandemic threat is real, Finland is preparing to vaccinate its entire population against the disease.
      In the second supplementary budget for 2005, released by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, it was proposed that a total of EUR 20.8 million be allocated to finance the acquisition of 5.2 million bird flu vaccine doses.
      This vaccine has been developed to protect humans against infection with the avian influenza or bird flu caused by the H5N1 virus, which has been spreading in Southeast Asia.
      According to the National Public Health Institute, the vaccine has to be acquired still in this autumn, in order to be used immediately after the potential pandemic outbreak.
      Consciousness of the possible threat in Finland was raised by a scare involving seagulls late last month. The fear has been that the virus, which has spread from Asia to Kazakhstan and Russia, might reach Europe as well, spread by migratory water fowl.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Oulu seagulls died of common influenza, not bird flu (6.9.2005)
  Suspected bird flu virus detected in seagulls in Finland (29.8.2005)
  Finland prepares for possible global bird flu pandemic (11.3.2005)

Links:
  World Health Organization
  National Public Health Institute

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