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Britain 'Will Close Borders to Stop Spread of Bird Flu'

Posted on: Monday, 17 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By RACHEL ELLIS

BRITAIN'S borders will be closed to prevent the spread of bird flu under plans being considered by the Government.

Ministers are so concerned about an avian flu pandemic that officials are examining the unprecedented step of closing all ports, airports and Eurostar terminals.

It would be the first time in British history that the borders were completely sealed, disrupting food supplies and stranding tens of thousands of travellers abroad until the outbreak was contained.

Officials at the Cabinet Office say there can be no half measures, but there would be enormous damage to the economy with ferry operators and airlines claiming millions in compensation for lost trade.

The plan would be adopted if bird flu mutated so it could be transmitted from person to person. At present, it can only pass to humans from birds, making widespread outbreaks extremely unlikely.

But once human-to-human transmission occurs, the disease will be able to spread internationally at enormous speed prompting officials to examine how they can stop people travelling in or out of Britain in an effort to prevent it landing on our shores at all.

The revelation came as British scientists confirmed yesterday that the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has killed at least 65 in Asia, has been found in poultry in Romania.

The Department of Health said: 'Closing Britain's borders as well as screening people at ports and airports could help stop the spread of bird flu.

'These could be an option in the event of an outbreak and are among many issues being considered. No decision has been made on whether or not these precautions will be needed. It will be for the Cabinet Office to make such a decision.' Ministers are expected to use the Civil Contingencies Act, passed last year, to bring in emergency measures such as quarantining infected patients, restricting travel and cancelling football matches.

Confirming that the bird flu found in Romania was the deadly variant, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 'It is H5N1 but further laboratory results are required in order to confirm the origin of the virus.

'It does not necessarily change our approach to preparedness. We believe that we are prepared and we urge all poultry farmers to keep vigilant.' H5N1 last appeared in the UK in a flock of turkeys in Norfolk in 1992 but was completely eradicated.

Last night Britain announced that it was joining forces with China to fight frightening new types of infections with deadly influenzas such as bird flu at the top of the list.

Leading scientists from the two countries will be 'twinned' in an effort to beat 'emerging infections'.

The plans were announced in Beijing by Chancellor Gordon Brown and his Chinese counterpart. China has been hit in recent years by both bird flu and SARS, another virusspread illness.

Meanwhile, China has developed a better vaccine for use on birds against avian flu. It is preparing to mass produce the new vaccine which does not kill chicks, can be applied by spraying and costs a fifth of the price of the previous vaccine.

Source: Mail on Sunday; London (UK)

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