Minister says bird flu probably in CzechRep, but no one knows it

[ukcz]

Minister says bird flu probably in CzechRep, but no one knows it

Prague- Bird flu has most probably already reached the Czech Republic, but no dead bird has been uncovered as yet, Agriculture Minister Jn Mladek said in Nova television's discussion programme Seven.


This opinion was pronounced by some experts in recent days as well.
The virus has already been confirmed by all of the Czech Republic's neighbours. The last was Poland today.


Josef Duben, spokesman for the Czech National Veterinary Administration, said today that the virus has not yet been in the country.
More than 500 dead birds living in the wild and more than 100 dead pieces of poultry have been tested with a negative result.


Duben said no mass death has been detected as yet.


Austria and Germany have been fighting the virus for some time, Slovakia confirmed it last week.

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=176198

[Alex]

Minister says bird flu probably in CzechRep, but no one knows it

EX-MINISTER RATH SCRAPS TENDER FOR BIRD FLU VACCINE PURCHASE - CRo
16.09.2006

Prague- David Rath, in his capacity as health minister until recently, scrapped the tender for the purchase of vaccines against bird flu, and his successor in the post, Tomas Julinek, will try hard to secure the purchase, Czech Radio (CRo) reported today.

According to Rath (Social Democrats, CSSD), chief medical inspector Michael Vit acted imprudently in selecting the company to carry out the purchase. The offered price was too high, therefore Rath says he scrapped the deal.

Julinek (Civic Democrats, ODS), who has been health minister for a fortnight now, says the ministry will try hard to fill the gap so that the Czech Republic possess the vaccine.

The previous CSSD government discussed the scrapping of the bird flu vaccine tender as a way to curb the state budget expenditures planned for 2007.

New Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty (ODS) has called the issue "sensitive."

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=209789