http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=homenews&id=20060529-5180
The avian flu virus was confirmed in 88 hotbeds, as compared to 83 that were registered on Saturday, most of them being in Brasov and Prahova Counties, while the number of suspicions reached 23, according to the latest report released yesterday by the Central Anti-epizootic Headquarters.
Ministry of Agriculture Spokesman Adrian Tibu explained that the new hotbeds were confirmed in Arges County (two) and in Prahova (three).
In her turn, Rodica Costinea, General Director within the Health Ministry stated that no person suspected to have contacted the avian flu virus was confirmed.
District 5, in quarantine
A new avian hotbed was confirmed in District 5 from the Capital City, on Nufarul Galben Street. Almost 200 people are inside the quarantine area.
Disinfection of the street that is in quarantine was to be repeated last night, in order to open a new check point by which the inhabitants in the area can go this morning to school or work.
?Quarantine means that the population is allowed to get out, but only through the check point that was set on Nufarul Galben Street,? stated on Saturday evening the district mayor, Marian Vanghelie.
Approx 400 poultry from the 70 households have already been culled. The authorities yesterday provided water and food to the inhabitants. This is the third area in Bucharest that entered the quarantine, following District 2 and 4.
Control directorate chief, almost dismissed
On the other hand, the new president of the National Health-Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), Marian Avram stated yesterday that ANSVSA has almost completed the procedures for dismissing the head of the Directorate for Inspections and Control, Stelian Caramitru. PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Saturday asked for the dismissal of Caramitru, because he would have had to coordinate personally the bio-security controls from the poultry farms, especially in Prahova County (where a large part of the infected chicken from Codlea ended up ? our note), an aspect that he has allegedly neglected.
24 people in prosecutors? attention
According to the Government Spokesperson, Oana Marinescu, the investigators have identified, by Friday, 24 people guilty for the spreading of the avian flu virus, while other 365 persons are heard in the same file. Brasov Police and Prosecutor?s Offices investigations revealed that suspicions regarding the presence of this virus in the farms from Codlea existed from March, as thousands of chickens died, and they were buried in accordance with the managers? indications, stated for Mediafax legal sources.
WHO expert: situation in Romania, extremely difficult
Victor Olsavszky, representative in Romania of the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on Saturday at Victoria Palace that the exposure type and the measures recommended by authorities led to the fact that no case of avian flu in human was confirmed, although the situation is extremely difficult.
Olsavszky ? who is part of a team of three WHO experts that analyse the avian flu in Romania ? said that the way in which the epidemic spread in Romania ? suddenly and quickly, on a geographical area rather extended ? did not appear elsewhere in the last few years. The situation the authorities must face ?is extremely difficult,? because the origin of the epidemic lays in illegal commercial activities, which makes the tracking of the infested poultry very difficult,? said Olsavszky. ?We appreciate the strong reaction of the Government against this wave of avian flu,? he mentioned. According to WHO representative, poultry consumption dropped significantly because of the avian flu, but it is very important that the authorities made sure no infected products will get on the market.
PSD: the government, overwhelmed with the situation
The main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party is tougher than WHO representative regarding the management of the situation caused by the avian flu and claims that the Romanian authorities are completely overwhelmed. PSD draws attention of the fact that the stammering, the confusion and the transfer of responsibilities between the authorities from Bucharest have generated diplomatic tensions between Romania and Hungary. ?The Romanian authorities proved they do not know the consulting and dialogue mechanisms within the European Union. Instead of obtaining international support they need, as they are completely overwhelmed with the situation, the Romanian authorities open a useless diplomatic conflict with an EU member state,? reads a PSD communiqu? released on Friday.
Scheele, unsatisfied
In his turn, Jonathan Scheele, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Bucharest on Friday said in an interview for Radio France International that the authorities should have tracked sooner what was going on at the farm from Codlea. As compared to the appearance of the avian flu in Romania, when the authorities reacted well, in the case of Codlea farms, they had some gaps, said Scheele. In this respect, the European official added that Romania must pay higher efforts regarding the safety of food health.
Bulgarian blockade
Starting Friday, Bulgaria has imposed restrictions at the common border with Romania regarding the import of poultry. ?The blockade? is only superficial, because Romania has stopped exporting poultry or hens to Bulgaria since the beginning of the year, claims ?Gandul? paper. According to the data from Giurgiu and Ruse Customs Houses, the only meat export from Romania belonged to McDonalds? group. On the other hand, according to the Bulgarian news agency Novinite, a representative of the health-veterinary services from Bulgaria accused a company from Romania of having exported chicken meat infested with the avian flu. Without mentioning his name, Novinite agency quotes the Bulgarian official who stated that ?the place where these chickens were sold is not known, and the threat of virus spreading in Bulgaria is higher than ever.?
The avian flu virus was confirmed in 88 hotbeds, as compared to 83 that were registered on Saturday, most of them being in Brasov and Prahova Counties, while the number of suspicions reached 23, according to the latest report released yesterday by the Central Anti-epizootic Headquarters.
Ministry of Agriculture Spokesman Adrian Tibu explained that the new hotbeds were confirmed in Arges County (two) and in Prahova (three).
In her turn, Rodica Costinea, General Director within the Health Ministry stated that no person suspected to have contacted the avian flu virus was confirmed.
District 5, in quarantine
A new avian hotbed was confirmed in District 5 from the Capital City, on Nufarul Galben Street. Almost 200 people are inside the quarantine area.
Disinfection of the street that is in quarantine was to be repeated last night, in order to open a new check point by which the inhabitants in the area can go this morning to school or work.
?Quarantine means that the population is allowed to get out, but only through the check point that was set on Nufarul Galben Street,? stated on Saturday evening the district mayor, Marian Vanghelie.
Approx 400 poultry from the 70 households have already been culled. The authorities yesterday provided water and food to the inhabitants. This is the third area in Bucharest that entered the quarantine, following District 2 and 4.
Control directorate chief, almost dismissed
On the other hand, the new president of the National Health-Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), Marian Avram stated yesterday that ANSVSA has almost completed the procedures for dismissing the head of the Directorate for Inspections and Control, Stelian Caramitru. PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Saturday asked for the dismissal of Caramitru, because he would have had to coordinate personally the bio-security controls from the poultry farms, especially in Prahova County (where a large part of the infected chicken from Codlea ended up ? our note), an aspect that he has allegedly neglected.
24 people in prosecutors? attention
According to the Government Spokesperson, Oana Marinescu, the investigators have identified, by Friday, 24 people guilty for the spreading of the avian flu virus, while other 365 persons are heard in the same file. Brasov Police and Prosecutor?s Offices investigations revealed that suspicions regarding the presence of this virus in the farms from Codlea existed from March, as thousands of chickens died, and they were buried in accordance with the managers? indications, stated for Mediafax legal sources.
WHO expert: situation in Romania, extremely difficult
Victor Olsavszky, representative in Romania of the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on Saturday at Victoria Palace that the exposure type and the measures recommended by authorities led to the fact that no case of avian flu in human was confirmed, although the situation is extremely difficult.
Olsavszky ? who is part of a team of three WHO experts that analyse the avian flu in Romania ? said that the way in which the epidemic spread in Romania ? suddenly and quickly, on a geographical area rather extended ? did not appear elsewhere in the last few years. The situation the authorities must face ?is extremely difficult,? because the origin of the epidemic lays in illegal commercial activities, which makes the tracking of the infested poultry very difficult,? said Olsavszky. ?We appreciate the strong reaction of the Government against this wave of avian flu,? he mentioned. According to WHO representative, poultry consumption dropped significantly because of the avian flu, but it is very important that the authorities made sure no infected products will get on the market.
PSD: the government, overwhelmed with the situation
The main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party is tougher than WHO representative regarding the management of the situation caused by the avian flu and claims that the Romanian authorities are completely overwhelmed. PSD draws attention of the fact that the stammering, the confusion and the transfer of responsibilities between the authorities from Bucharest have generated diplomatic tensions between Romania and Hungary. ?The Romanian authorities proved they do not know the consulting and dialogue mechanisms within the European Union. Instead of obtaining international support they need, as they are completely overwhelmed with the situation, the Romanian authorities open a useless diplomatic conflict with an EU member state,? reads a PSD communiqu? released on Friday.
Scheele, unsatisfied
In his turn, Jonathan Scheele, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Bucharest on Friday said in an interview for Radio France International that the authorities should have tracked sooner what was going on at the farm from Codlea. As compared to the appearance of the avian flu in Romania, when the authorities reacted well, in the case of Codlea farms, they had some gaps, said Scheele. In this respect, the European official added that Romania must pay higher efforts regarding the safety of food health.
Bulgarian blockade
Starting Friday, Bulgaria has imposed restrictions at the common border with Romania regarding the import of poultry. ?The blockade? is only superficial, because Romania has stopped exporting poultry or hens to Bulgaria since the beginning of the year, claims ?Gandul? paper. According to the data from Giurgiu and Ruse Customs Houses, the only meat export from Romania belonged to McDonalds? group. On the other hand, according to the Bulgarian news agency Novinite, a representative of the health-veterinary services from Bulgaria accused a company from Romania of having exported chicken meat infested with the avian flu. Without mentioning his name, Novinite agency quotes the Bulgarian official who stated that ?the place where these chickens were sold is not known, and the threat of virus spreading in Bulgaria is higher than ever.?
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