Since its outbreak in 2003 beneath free living and domesticated birds, the bird flu has continued to spread from Asia to the West. In January 2006, it reached Turkey and Romania and is now feared to have even reached Finland via migratory birds.

In September 2005 there was already a documented case of bird flu in Oulu. The low-pathogenic virus H13 was found in a dead seagull. Luckily, this type of virus seems not to cause serious epidemics in wild birds or poultry in the area. But with the pending return of migratory birds from southern and central Europe, it only seems to be a matter of time before the more dangerous virus-subtype H5N1 to reach Finland.

More recent outbreaks than the one in Turkey have been reported from the Austrian-Hungarian border and from the north of Italy. In mid-February, around 40 dead swans were discovered in northern Germany at the island of Rügen. They had died from H5N1. As a result, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany have decreed that poultry must be kept in barns. In Finland, poultry is kept inside anyway. Now, the virus is spreading in Europe.

When having close contact with sick or dead birds, humans can become infected by the H5N1-virus as well. Since December 2003, the bird flu virus caused 169 so called ‘confirmed human cases”, i.e. cases of the disease, which were registered by the World Health Organisation WHO. 91 infected persons have died of the disease so far, all of them in Asia or Middle East. That is a high death-rate in comparison to other diseases. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the bird flu virus could combine with the normal human flu virus in a person infected with both types. That could produce a new “super virus” which can be transferred from person to person and induce a pandemics among humans.

One effect of the virus’ ‘approach’ through Asia and Russia to Europe was a panic-lead hoarding of “Tamiflu” in 2004 and 2005. “Tamiflu” is currently the only known medicament, which is effective against the H5N1-virus in humans. It belongs to a group of medicines which slow the virus’s reproduction down and could be used to contain a pandemic outbreak of H5N1 in the beginning.
Several states in Europe have already made huge pre-orders from the company Roche, who produces Tamiflu, and have begun to stockpile the drug. But already Chinese scientists have reported a virus-strain in Vietnam that is resistant to Tamiflu. The drug is also suspected to make certain illnesses worse and interfere with the effectiveness of other medicines.
Due to the long and complex production process, for private persons the drug is no longer freely available. A prescription is required in order to provide an even distribution and supplies in case of a pandemics.

The first migratory birds have already arrived in Finland. The majority of the migratory birds coming from Africa and southern Europe are expected to arrive here in about a month. How dangerous is the situation for people and what kinds of safety measures are taken in Finland?

We had an interview with the medical doctor Anu Schiltz from the Oulu hospital:

During the next months, migrating birds will come back to Finland. Some of them might be infected by bird flu and bring the virus into the country. Do we have to fear wild birds now?

- No, you do not have to fear wild birds. It is just important not to go too close to possibly sick or dead birds. Especially do not touch them. By the way, the risk of human beings being infected is nowadays as high as it was in 2004. The only difference is that the subject was not discussed as strong in the media then.

Is it dangerous to eat meat or eggs of possibly infected birds? Do we have to avoid chicken?

- No, the health of poultry and the quality meat are constantly controlled. Anyways, if you boil or fry meat and eggs they are no danger for your health.

What kind of preparations has Finland made for a possible pandemic among humans?

- Finland bought 1,3 Million packages of the flu treatment Tamiflu on stock. Then, they have made a contract with a Dutch manufactor of vaccines. In case of a pandemic they should deliver a vaccine for whole Finland during half a year. A vaccine can only be produced after the outbreak of a pandemic, because the virus type has to be identified and the vaccine developed.

So, there are only treatments for about one fifth of the population here in Finland and the development of a vaccine takes a relatively long time. Is there actually anything people can do, if there is a pandemic of bird flu here?

- Yes, simple hygienic measures would be very effective. Wash your hands frequently, do not shake hands with people, avoid places with masses of people or use a face mask.

More information, latest news and FAQs on bird flu:
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/bird-flu

If you find lots of dead birds in one spot, you should inform the Finnish Veterinary and Food Research Institute EELA. They investigate the reason of death of the animals:
http://www.eela.fi/en/index.html