H5N1 has attacked Europe

At risk of a global flu pandemic

H5N1 has attacked Europe

anise

On October 24, health professionals from more than 50 countries had a meeting in Copenhagen (Denmark) to discuss how to deal with bird flu.

In the evening, another meeting between ministers and health experts from 30 countries, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was conducted in Ottawa (Canada). aims to establish an international coordination front for dealing with pandemics. The world could not sit still when bird flu was spreading day by day.

H5N1, the most virulent avian flu virus ever, has caused the deaths of more than 60 victims in Asia, who have just struck Europe in shock after some test results show the type. The virus has been present almost in the east and west sides of the continent.

At the same time with the Russian labs claiming H5N1 has spread to Tambov, 400km southwest of Moscow, the British laboratory also identified an imported aviator from South America and died in a quarantine room a few days ago. bring in this most virulent virus.

Asia gets hot every day

In Asia, the situation continues to heat up every day. Authorities Malta has sealed a container of goods from Taiwan after discovering two dead chickens on board. Workers on board are not allowed to go ashore while waiting for test results. Malaysian border police arrested a declaration truck carrying fruit from Thailand but actually contained 12 tons of frozen chicken.

The main fuel for the production of Tamiflu is shikimic acid, an extract of anise.

For years, Roche has been collecting anise trees in four Chinese provinces to produce drugs with a process that lasts up to a year.

Recently, some people have alarmed the amount of star anise in these four provinces is not enough to meet the current demand.

However, according to Taiwan, the territory is claiming the right to produce Tamiflu, saying it has other resources.

In Thailand, the government declared four Suphan Buri provinces, Kampheng Phet, Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi are under strict surveillance. About 900,000 volunteers have just been sent around villages to look for cases of suspected flu infection to take immediate remedy.

Australia set up a buffer zone

South of the Pacific Ocean, Australia decided to set up a 1,000km "buffer zone" in the north of the country to try to stop the advance of bird flu. Australian authorities are urgently training staff in neighboring East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to detect infected birds and prevent disease. In the Middle East, Israel and Jordan countries set up hotlines to exchange information about bird flu .

Hong Kong: "Roche discrimination"

Regarding the situation of Tamiflu medicine, the Hong Kong medical community criticized Switzerland's Roche Pharmaceutical Company as "stigma" for Asia and "immoral". According to Kwok Ka - ki, representative of Hong Kong Legislative Council, although Roche has some moves to make concessions to US and UN pressures, for Asia, Roche deliberately ignores the requirements.

Hong Kong representatives suggested that instead of waiting for the blessing of the West, Hong Kong and mainland China to fight for the right to produce drugs Tamiflu: "We must start as soon as possible to produce medicine for the area. So we can still control prices. "

HYDRAULIC (THX, BKP, Reuters, TST)