Avian Flu crisis team set up in Wielkopolska

  An outbreak of avian flu in the town of Ostrzeszów in the Wielkopolska voivodship has prompted local authorities to form a crisis team to deal with the situation. Lech Janicki, an official of Ostrzeszów who created the district crisis team said: "We had to take immediate action on the discovery of an outbreak of avian flu in a village in the municipality of Bierzów Kobyla Gora. This is the first case of the disease, not only in our region but throughout the Wielkopolska voivodship." "Guards and police spread mats soaked with disinfectant on the road within 3 km of the source of infection," Janicki explained. Provincial Veterinary Officer in Poznan Andrzej Żarnecki assured that avian flu does not pose a hazard to humans, but there are other consequences. "After these events, we have a problem with the sale of poultry and eggs to foreign markets. Countries introduce restrictions until the source is eliminated, which usually lasts for 30 days, during which the sale of poultry is blocked," he said.