17 October 2005

Avian influenza (H5N1) in Romania

Avian influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed in Romania’s Danube delta area [1]. Testing for the virus was performed in a British laboratory and the results were confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Last week two chickens and a duck were found dead on a farm in the village of Ceamurlia de Jos in the Tulcea region of south-east Romania. The Danube delta contains Europe’s largest wetlands and is major resting place for migratory birds coming from Russia, Scandinavia, Poland and Germany. Romanian authorities have sealed off the area and are culling domestic birds in an attempt to control the spread of the virus.

Laboratory tests are also underway on samples taken from a hen and a swan from the village of Maliuc, 40 km north of Ceamurlia de Jos. The presence of H5N1 virus in these birds has not been confirmed.

There are no travel restrictions for those planning to visit Romania as the risk to UK travellers is believed to be very low. Travellers to the affected area are however, advised to take the following precautions.

• Avoid contact with live poultry and wild birds
• Avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry farms
• Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal faeces
• Do not eat or handle undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes
• Exercise good personal hygiene with frequent hand washing
• Do not attempt to bring any live poultry products back to the UK

It is not recommended that travellers take with them the neuraminidase inhibitor, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®).

Guidelines on the management of travellers returning from avian influenza-infected regions with a febrile illness, are available from the Health Protection Agency at http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPA

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Up to date information on the status of avian influenza in birds is available from the World Organization for Animal Health at http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm and from the Animal Welfare page of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/

disease/ai/index.htm.

Reference

1. ProMED-mail. Avian influenza - Eurasia (12) Romania. Pro-MED -mail 2005; 16 Oct: 20051016.3016 http://www.promedmail.org. Accessed 17 October 2005.