| Author (Person) | Smith, Emily |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.7, 23.2.06 |
| Publication Date | 23/02/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Emily Smith Date: 23/02/06 EU ministers will meet on Friday (24 February) in Vienna in an attempt to agree on dealing with the threat from the potentially deadly bird flu virus H5N1, as controversy rages over the desirability of vaccinating poultry. Their informal meeting has been called to discuss the situation in Europe. Dead birds have now tested positive for avian flu in seven EU countries - Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia. A spokesman for Austrian Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat said ministers would "exchange information, expectations and best practice" based on recent experiences. He added that this was likely to be turned into a presidency report on dealing with bird flu. This could then be discussed at a formal Health Council meeting before Austria hands over the presidency reins to Finland at the end of June. On Wednesday (22 February) the European Commission gave France and the Netherlands permission to vaccinate poultry stocks against H5N1, despite disagreement over the vaccine's effectiveness. Vaccination does not offer 100% protection against avian influenza and critics say it could even mask an outbreak of the disease, dangerously delaying detection. The French decision to vaccinate follows the discovery that a bird had died of avian flu in Eastern France late last week. Poultry will now be vaccinated in areas deemed to be at high risk of infection. The Dutch vaccinations meanwhile are precautionary, since bird flu has not been detected in the Netherlands since a previous outbreak in 2003. Free-range hens and pet, or 'hobby', poultry will now be eligible for vaccination, instead of having to be kept indoors in the event of an outbreak. Some small poultry holders had expressed fears there would not be room to keep their birds inside. A European Commission official said no other member state had so far applied for permission to vaccinate. "No one thinks generalised vaccination is a wise measure," he explained. "But they are all interested in having more information on the effectiveness [of vaccination] in the field." The idea of vaccination has also been dismissed by some because very few vaccines are currently available. The official said however that "availability is not the biggest question at the moment... Between five and six billion poultry are produced each year in the EU. About five million will now be vaccinated - a very limited fraction." The Commission is now attempting to keep an eye on the development of avian influenza outside, as well as within, the EU. A multi-service group of departments, led by health but also including external relations, development and enlargement, has been set up in the Commission to monitor the disease in its spread from Asia to both Africa and Europe. Provisionally known under its French acronym GRIPA (Groupe Interservices Peste Aviaire), the idea of setting up a group was agreed last Thursday (16 February). Article previews an informal meeting of EU Health Ministers on 24 February 2006 in Vienna. The meeting had been called in an attempt to agree on dealing with the threat from the potentially deadly bird flu virus H5N1, as controversy was raging over the desirability of vaccinating poultry. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Health |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
