- "Romanian authorities quarantined Ceamurlia de Jos,
which is home to 1,200 people, earlier this week. Maliuc and Vulturul,
another two villages in the Danube's delta area were quarantined yesterday,
when poultry died there after contracting the virus from wild birds".
-
- The above comments indicate H5N1 wild bird flu is spreading
in Romania. This is not a surprise. Whooper swans have been dying in Romania
for weeks, and the migration of birds into the area was predicted over
the summer.
-
- However, an OIE report from Russia indicates H5N1 was
closer to Romania than had been previously reported. Earlier reports of
dead birds in the Kalmaykiya region adjacent to the Caspian Sea had been
denied earlier. However, the just released report indicated H5 had been
detected in wild birds in the area.
-
- These reports raise serious issues regarding detection
and reporting. Russia deny reports that H5 was near the Caspian Sea in
August. The presence of H5N1 in Kalmaykiya in August indicated that it
was in other areas at that time, but there have been not OIE filings, even
though H5 is a reportable disease.
-
- Similarly, the confirmation of H5N1 in Romania and Turkey
indicate neighboring countries also have H5N1. Although there have been
several reports of dying wild birds and/or poultry in the region, no country
has announced the arrival of H5N1, even though countries have said they
are heightened alert.
-
- Failures to detect H5N1 in recent tests are also cause
for concern. It seems likely that many of the reported bird deaths are
from H5N1, yet the testing procedures produce false negatives.
-
- Clearly surveillance and report in Europe is in need
of improvement.
-
- Reports of increases in the efficiency of human-to-human
transmission, coupled with reports of Tamiflu resistance and failure to
prevent such human-to-human transmissions should provide incentives for
countries in Europe to improve their surveillance and reporting.
-
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