Oct 16, 2005
The Straits Times
BUCHAREST - A DOUBLE dose of bad news came yesterday in the battle against bird flu.
First, the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus has been confirmed in Romania, making its first appearance in Europe.
As countries worldwide rushed to build up their stockpile of Tamiflu, blow No. 2 came - the virus is showing signs of resistance to the drug.
The new finding, detected in a girl in Vietnam, raises the possibility that Tamiflu might be less useful than anticipated if resistant strains of the virus become more prevalent.
Dr Yoshihiro Kawaoka, one of the researchers in the study published in the journal Nature, suggested that it might be useful to stock up as well on alternatives such as Relenza.
Test results on samples from Romania yesterday confirmed the presence of H5NI, two days after its detection in Turkey sparked off a scramble for anti-viral drugs.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) immediately voiced concern at the Romanian outbreak, noting that it 'increases the possibility of transmission to humans'.
Experts such as Dr David Nabarro, the United Nations' bird flu coordinator, explained yesterday that as the H5N1 spreads, it could speed up its mutation into a virus that is transmitted easily among humans.
The fear is that the mutant form could trigger a flu pandemic that might kill millions. H5N1 has already killed more than 60 people in Asia.
Dr Klaus Stoehr, director of the WHO's influenza programme, said yesterday: 'We don't know whether a pandemic will break out in the coming weeks, months or only in years.
'But there's no question that if such a pandemic occurs, we'll be looking at hundreds of thousands or even millions of deaths worldwide.'
He added that all countries needed to assume that the flu would spread further.
The European Union called on governments of the 25-nation bloc to stockpile anti-viral drugs, and said people at risk should ensure they are vaccinated against regular influenza.
Romania has not reported any cases of bird flu so far in humans. Turkey tested nine people for possible bird flu on Friday after 40 pigeons died, but no signs of illness were detected.
As poultry sales plunged, officials in Turkey and Romania sought to assure an increasingly nervous public that there was no danger from eating cooked poultry.
Amid the growing bird flu fears, some firms have started supplying staff travelling to Asia with anti-viral drugs.
Companies such as Deutsche Bank are also working out contingency plans, including repatriation for their workers, should the virus mutate into a form that poses a serious threat to human health, the BBC reported. -- AP, AFP, Reuters
if it developes into a pandemic at least 50 million deaths is expected.
Does it spread through the air? Can it be controlled like SARs?
From contact with live birds....but there is fear that it might mutate into a form that can be transmitted between humans. Current solution is to cull the birds....If migratory birds pick them up, we may have to shoot the birds at Sungei Buloh...
So far the risk to humans who are not handling live birds is minimal. But there are reports of large scale die-offs among migratory birds in Qinghai, China. If infected migratory birds come to Singapore, visitors to Sungei Buloh may be at risk.
But culling them might not be politically feasible.....what to do? pray?
what if pigeons, crows , mynahs tio bird flu? how how how?? *choyzzz*
T o u c h w o o d!!
i think a pandemic is pending.
people are panicking and buying tamiflu off the shelf. black market going at 300 online.
in hong kong it is going at S$4.80 per tablet and out of stock.
No avian flu virus in dead mynahs found in Jurong: AVA
Singapore remains free from the bird flu virus, says the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority after a post-mortem on some dead mynahs showed they had died of poisoning.
On Friday, residents at Jurong West Street 41 were concerned when they found 12 dead birds scattered around their estate.
They called the National Environment Agency, which then sent officers to pick up the carcasses.
These were sent to the AVA's labs for tests.
However, no bird flu virus was detected in any of the carcasses.
Mynahs and crows are known to be carriers of the avian flu virus, which is usually found in migratory birds.
Singapore is home to thousands of migratory birds, with the northern tip of the island a thriving sanctuary for birds migrating each year from Siberia and China to Australia and New Zealand, and back again. - CNA /ch
