Moscow: The H5N1 strain of bird flu virus has been found among dozens of dead birds in Russia's southern province of Volgograd, officials in the province told AFP yesterday. "Today the provincial veterinary laboratory confirmed the presence of the the H5N1 virus in the blood of dead birds" found at a farmyard at the village of Vesyoly, a statement from the Volgograd provincial administration said.
Live poultry sales to be banned
Hong Kong - Hong Kong will ban the sale of live poultry in markets within three years in a move aimed at averting an outbreak of deadly bird flu, the city's political leader said yesterday. Chief Executive Donald Tsang told the legislature that while the territory was closely monitoring the spread of the H5N1 virus in China, it should also remain on guard for a possible outbreak at home. "The threat of avian flu remains ... we will remain vigilant to protect ourselves from any outbreak," Tsang said.
Chinks seen in Europe's readiness
Brussels - A European exercise to simulate an influenza pandemic showed the countries involved were reasonably prepared but exposed flaws in the system used to report national health crises, officials said yesterday. "Europe is reasonably well prepared for a pandemic, and probably better prepared than it was 18 months ago," John Simpson, director for emergency preparedness at Britain's Health Protection Agency, told a news briefing.
