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Customs Delays Hit UK Bird Flu Tests

Posted on: Saturday, 15 October 2005, 06:00 CDT

By Caroline Gammell And Geoff Meade

Samples of Romanian bird flu on their way to Britain to be tested for a deadly strain of the virus have been held up in Romania, Customs said yesterday.

The diseased birds are infected with the H5 virus.

But it is not yet known if they are contaminated with the deadly strain H5N1 ( which can be lethal to humans.

The test results were expected yesterday, but the samples had not even arrived at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey.

The labs confirmed the H5N1 virus had been found in poultry in the Asian part of Turkey, sparking fears that it could spread to Britain.

Scientists fear H5N1 could genetically mutate into a form easily passed from human to human, sparking a global flu pandemic. About 60 people in Asia have died from the H5N1 virus since 2003.

European Commission health spokesman Philip Tod yesterday said the samples had not arrived in the UK as expected because of delays at the Romanian border.

This was because of the nature of the parcel's contents.

He said: "It is perfectly understandable that there are procedures in place to deal with packages of this kind.

"These are sensitive packages which have to be treated in accordance with rules and regulations governing consignments which could be dangerous."

UK chief veterinary officer Dr Debby Reynolds said it was assumed the Romanian birds were carrying the H5N1 virus.

All imports of poultry meat, eggs and feathers from Romania and Turkey have already been banned.

The delay emerged as EU veterinary experts from the 25 member states held an emergency meeting in Brussels to agree ways of trying to prevent the spread of bird flu. They are expected to recommend separating high-risk poultry from areas such as wetlands or other areas frequented by migratory birds.

Government animal welfare minister Ben Bradshaw said the Government had not ruled out ordering free-range poultry to be moved indoors.

He said: "We certainly don't rule out any measures like that, but we want them to be proportionate and sensible."

As concern grew, the Government said it was stockpiling 800,000 anti-viral treatments each month to prepare for a potential pandemic.

They have gathered 14.6 million courses of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, which they anticipate would be sufficient for 25% of the population.

England's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson is to publish the conclusions of a review of the UK contingency plan next week.

Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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