Brussels, 27/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Markos Kyprianou will be in Nigeria from 1st to 4 March where he is expected to meet president Olusegun Obasanjo, the minister for health Eyitayo Lambo, minister for Agriculture Alhaji Adamu Bello and Information minister Chukwuemeka Chikelu. This visit was prompted by the fact that Nigeria is particularly affected by bird flu, the consequences of which could be disastrous in a country where the population, especially children, is in permanent contact with domestic chickens and where chicken is part of the staple diet. 300,000 chickens have already died or been slaughtered in Nigeria, mainly in the north of the country. Commission spokesperson Philip Tod pointed out on Monday in Brussels that as the spring migratory season approaches, many birds will be returning from Africa to their summer nesting grounds in or via Europe. This migration contained a number of unknown factors which would mean remaining “vigilant”, explained Tod.
The spread of the H5N1 virus continues to increases at a sustained pace. It has been confirmed in Niger and Bosnia and tests are being carried out in Kenya and Pakistan. On 27 February, President Putin set up a crisis unit in charge of the problem.