Brussels, 17/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - For the third time in two years, experts from the Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are trying to define knowledge of the bird flu virus and refine measures to respond to a human flu pandemic. The meeting, which opened on 15 May in Uppsala in Sweden, is due to end on Wednesday. It demonstrates once again the importance that the European Institutions give to this danger to public health and the excellent cooperation between the institutions and the WTO.
While acknowledging that the situation appears to be calmer today, after the astonishing progress of the H5N1 strain of bird flu across over 50 countries, WHO Regional Director Dr Marc Danzon underlines the need to enhance the level of surveillance in animal and human populations. He highlights the importance of controlling the disease in animals and of educating the public (through simple messages) about risky behaviour. Research into all aspects of bird flu has to be increa sed and the level of preparedness constantly improved, says Dr Danzon. “It is inevitable that the pandemic will occur. We do not know when it will happen, what virus will cause it or how severe it will be. However, even a 'mild' pandemic - one like the pandemics of 1957 and 1978 - will cause disruption to our societies and result in a significant number of deaths. By preparing now we can save lives,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab, ECDC Director, arguing for greater effort to prepare in Europe. She spoke of the work already done by the European centre and of the work in progress, such as that on the possibility of humans contracting the H5N1 strain in the lakes or rivers where infected birds had been found. Other work being undertaken includes the risk of the development of resistance to anti-viral medicines, possible cross-protection from earlier influenza infections, and the possibility of the influenza virus being spread via banknotes and coins. One of the major problems is the lack of knowledge of this form of influenza, acknowledged Ms Jakab, stressing “More research is needed into technical questions such as the effectiveness of face masks, hand washing, school closure and other public health measures”. “We know that Oseltamivir - Tamiflu - can be effective as prophylaxis and treatment for H5N1 provided it is administered within 48 hours. Are other anti-virals effective against H5N1? Will anti-virals be effective against the pandemic virus - whichever strain it turns out to be? How can they best be used to contain the disease? What role might a pre-pandemic H5-based vaccine play?” These were some of the questions Ms Jakab put to those taking part in the conference, in the knowledge that final answers would not be found in three days.