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Bulgaria: Avian Flu Crisis Task Force Begins Operations

Posted on: Monday, 17 October 2005, 12:00 CDT

Text of report in English by Bulgarian news agency BTA website; subheadings inserted editorially

Sofia, 17 October: This country's preparations to cope with a potential flu pandemic and the steps to be taken by the health system in case of an avian flu outbreak were discussed by the leadership of the Ministry of Health Monday [17 October], the ministry said in a press release.

An interdepartmental avian flu crisis task force started operating on Monday. The task force was set up in connection with the avian flu cases reported in two neighbouring countries.

The crisis task force is chaired by Health Minister Prof. Radoslav Gaydarski. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Nihat Kabil is deputy chairman. The task force includes experts of seven ministries and their specialized structures (research institutes and other units working in the field of epidemiology) and scientists.

First meeting of task force on 19 October

The crisis task force will hold its first session on 19 October.

The steps to be taken by the medical authorities in this country and by the public in the case of a flu pandemic and how to mitigate the medical and social consequences of such a pandemic are listed in a National Pandemic Plan which will be moved for approval by the Council of Ministers.

The steps will be implemented by a National Pandemic Committee.

A total of 430 samples for virological tests and 3,846 samples for serological tests of avian flu have been taken and submitted to the National Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza Laboratory in Sofia since the beginning of the year, according to a reference of the Veterinary Medicine Service sent to BTA through the Health Ministry.

A total of 339 samples for virological tests and 1,346 for serological tests have been taken from wild ducks since 10 October alone.

Two European Commission experts in Bulgaria

Two experts of the European Commission have been seconded to Bulgaria to check the measures taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Veterinary Medicine Service.

Experts at the Regional Inspectorates of the Environment and Waters are continuing intensified monitoring for sick and dead birds across the country and especially in the wetlands and around the large dam lakes where waterfowl gather, the Ministry of Environment and Waters said in a press release Monday. The monitoring is within the framework of the preventive measures against the spread of avian flu in Bulgaria adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Health.

The number of dead birds found so far gives no grounds for concern, according to experts. The dead birds found are being studied.

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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