ARMENIAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES BRACING UP FOR POTENTIAL BIRD FLU OUTBREAK
Armenpress
Oct 10 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Armenian health authorities have
developed a national program of measures to withstand a potential
outbreak of bird flu and will send it to government approval. Cases
of bird flu reported last week by Romania and Turkey have increased
fears that it may reach Armenia.
Lilit Asatrian, head of a health ministry department, said experts
fear the H5N1 virus could mutate into one which spreads easily among
humans, creating a pandemic that might kill millions. Last week Turk
television quoted Turkish farm minister Mehdi Eker as saying bird
flu had been discovered in Turkey for the first time. The television
station said turkeys had died of the disease on a farm in Balikesir
province near the Aegean Sea in western Turkey.
According to Lilit Asatrian, examinations were conducted in all large
poultry farms in Armenia to identify their readiness in case of an
outbreak of the disease. She said agricultural ministry has promised
to report about any case of birds deaths.
Asatrian said there is a lot has be done to be prepared for the
disease’s possible spread into Armenia-to set up laboratories and
prepare personnel.
She said Armenian health authorities expect WHO’s assistance to
implement the anti-bird flu program.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress