Russia claims success against avian flu

Russia reported in September 2005 that the number of cases of bird flu are dropping as the government discusses further collaboration with the European Union to fight the disease. In the Tiumen region, where its bird flu epidemic began, Russia is expected to release two more villages, Vlasovo and Vorobievo, from quarantine within a week. These two will join Krashenevo and Peganovo, where quarantine has already been lifted after $US206,600 was spent fighting the disease. Many birds in Siberia, Russia's bird flu epicentre, are expected to migrate west, hitting the coasts of Britain and France this autumn so the EC is deeply interested in what is happening.Russia may be getting past the worst, despite the fact that bird flu continues to be very active in other areas. Five other regions have reported outbreaks and in Tiumen itself, new cases were reported on 28 August in Sladkovo village."In three households the virus was found. In two of them, the diagnosis of bird flu was established. 21 birds died and 57 birds were destroyed," said Serghey Dercaci, head of the Tiumen oblast veterinary office.

 

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Exceptional Situations in the Privoljsk-Ural region claimed 38,000 birds had been killed up to 31 August, but no new deaths had been reported in the last few days. Damage was estimated at RUR3.46m. Authorities also said there had been no cases of bird flu among people who had been in contact with infected poultry. More than 33,000 people across 83 settlements have been examined in the last few days.

 

The Russian Ministry of Agriculture said a recent meeting with representatives of the European Commission had been productive, with both sides agreeing on the need to collaborate further in the fight against bird flu. This remains the main threat to European populations and to food processing centers. The EU has banned poultry imports from Russia and Kazakhstan and imposed tighter border controls, but the EU does not import poultry from these regions.

 

The Russian government noted that birds from the Leningrad region conformed to international standards and were also used to cater for diplomats. The government has also reacted to the EU's import ban and stricter border controls by voicing concerns it has about European food processing plants.