Bird flu measures to stay until May

FROM October to January 15 the Balearic Government took a total of 235 blood samples, 161 from farm birds and 74 from wild animals, at various points around the islands. The samples were tested in Madrid for the virus H5N1 which is known to be the virus which carries the bird flu. However, after the analysis all the samples were found to be negative. After the seventh meeting of the Mixed Commission for the prevention of bird flu yesterday, the participants said that the situation in the Balearics is one of “calm”. According to them this disease can only be spread from birds to humans and not from humans to humans.
They also said that the preventative measures for the detection of bird flu in the Balearics will stay in place until May 31 this year when migratory birds will have passed through the islands on their return home. They added that, in spite of the 18 recent cases discovered in Turkey, with three deaths, and in Ukraine, Croatia and Holland, there is no cause for alarm and ruled out the necessity for Balearic residents to take special precautions, such as vaccinations or changing their diet.