Romania Isolates Village Infected with Avian Influenza
On October 7, 2005, Romanian authorities isolated a village in the Danube Delta region, consisting of approximately 30 residents, after discovering three ducks that had died from avian influenza.
Romanian Minister of Agriculture Gheorghe Flutur stated that the avian influenza viruses found in the farm with the deceased ducks were identified as having been transmitted by migratory birds from Russia.
The village, named Ciamurlia, was immediately placed under complete isolation, and all hunting and fishing activities were banned in eight nearby counties.
Recently, Romania also suspended poultry imports from 15 countries, most of which are in Asia.
Currently, there have been no reported cases of human infection with avian influenza in this village. Minister Flutur also mentioned that authorities have administered vaccinations and provided medication to the villagers affected by the quarantine. Samples from the deceased ducks have been sent to London for testing.
The World Health Organization has reported at least 116 cases of human infection with avian influenza virus, with 60 fatalities. Most of these cases were infected through direct contact with sick poultry, but the virus is not easily transmitted from person to person. However, officials continue to warn that this virus has the potential to mutate and could spread between humans.
Two days prior, health officials from 80 countries and 8 international organizations met in Washington to discuss measures to prevent and respond to the potential emergence of avian influenza as a pandemic, similar to the outbreak in 1918, which is estimated to have killed between 20 to 50 million people worldwide.
HOÀNG HỒNG (according to CNN)
