EU issues bird flu warning
European Union states should be prepared for a potential bird flu pandemic and stockpile anti-viral drugs.
The warning came from the EU’s health commissioner Markos Kyprianou as the Commission confirmed that a bird flu virus outbreak in Turkey is a strain which is dangerous to humans.
The H5N1 strain has been held responsible for more than 60 deaths in Asia in the last two years but only one is believed to have died after catching the virus from another human.
According the the BBC, Kyprianou advised seasonal flu vaccinations for populations considered to be at risk and said governments should focus on stockpiling viral drugs.
He reportedly confirmed that the virus found in poultry in north west Turkey was the deadly strain and said: “There is a direct relationship with viruses found in Russia, Mongolia and China.”
The export of live birds and feathers from Turkey has been banned until April.
The EU has also banned bird and poultry products from Romania after tests on three ducks found the presence of a weaker strain of bird flu.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025