Migrating seagulls could bring bird flu to the Balearics

THE European Commission has warned that bird flu could reach the southern shores of the Mediterranean, carried by certain migratory fowl, one of which comes to the Balearics. Although the message from the European Union was also one of discouraging panic, Foreign Ministers admitted that the bird flu virus represents a “world threat” for which the member states are not prepared. Spain's Agriculture Minister, Elena Espinosa, has said that unbridled alarm is simply “not necessary”. She appealed for calm, saying that in the event of such a pandemic reaching Spain, it would only cause real damage in the poultry industry as thousands of birds would have to be slaughtered. The virus in its present form would not be dangerous to humans as there are no cases of the disease being passed from one person to another, or of it having been contracted through eating poultry. The only way to catch bird flu “is to have permanent contact with contaminated fowl”. Following a National Public Health Committee meeting, central government has announced agreement with the country's self-governing regions, of which the Balearics is one, to increase the purchase of antiviral medicine to combat the bird flu by some 15-25 percent. The amount will be governed by the level of groups at risk in each region. The danger for Europe now lies on the southern shores of the Mediterranean, since migrating birds could bring the bird flu virus with them. A species of seagull which sometimes comes to the Balearics, is known to come from countries where cases of the disease have been confirmed. However, the Islands are not generally a key destination for this seagull which comes from the Danube delta to winter in wetlands.