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FACTBOX-Measures against swine flu in Europe

Published 04/30/2009, 07:12 AM
Updated 04/30/2009, 07:24 AM

April 30 (Reuters) - Here is a guide to precautionary steps being taken around Europe and Africa to combat a possible flu pandemic:

* Star denotes new or updated entry

EUROPE:

AUSTRIA -- Has stocks of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 4 million people (half the population), and has secured production capacity for prophylactic vaccines for the entire population. It has also stockpiled 8 million protective masks.

* BOSNIA -- Recommended citizens to avoid travel to countries where many flu cases have been recorded. Bosnia's Muslim-Croat federation has stocks of 12,000 boxes of Tamiflu and other anti-virals, enough to cover up to 3 percent of the population of around 2 million. Bosnia's Serb Republic has about 400 doses of Oseltamivir anti-viral medicine.

* BRITAIN -- Launched a major advertising campaign to combat the threat of swine flu. The "Catch it, Bin it, Kill it!" adverts urge people to use tissues when they sneeze, dispose of them and then wash their hands.

-- Leaflets giving advice about the new H1N1 swine flu virus are to be sent to every home in Britain from May 5.

-- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico. Routine consular and all visa services at its embassy in Mexico City have been suspended. Has antiviral stockpiles for treatment of 50 percent of the population.

-- Travel firms Thomson Holidays and First Choice have decided to repatriate their customers from Mexico and cancel flights bound for Cancun. Thomas Cook is cancelling all flights to Mexico until May 5.

BULGARIA -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico. Two thermal scanners have been installed at Sofia airport. Customs officers are also checking the luggage of passengers arriving from Mexico, the United States, Canada and Japan to ensure they are not importing pork products.

CZECH REPUBLIC -- Circulating general information on the viral strain to hospitals, doctors and general practitioners. Has stocks of 2 million doses of Tamiflu, enough to treat one fifth of the population. At Prague Airport, information boards on swine flu have been put up and medical tests are available.

DENMARK -- A general pandemic plan has been in place since the bird flu scare. Denmark has stockpiled Tamiflu.

FRANCE -- Strongly advising against travelling to Mexico. Has reinforced checks at airports, especially for people returning from Mexico. Has stocks of more than 30 million antiviral treatments, composed of 24 million doses of Tamiflu and 9 million doses of Relenza.

GERMANY -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico.

GREECE -- Has "strategic stocks" of Tamiflu and other antiviral medicine. Leaflets are being handed out at the airport. Passengers coming from infected countries are being tracked and doctors at the airport will carry out checks.

ITALY - Pamphlets are being handed out to passengers at Rome's international airport. Italy has 10 million doses of Zanamivir (Relenza) and 60,000 doses of Tamiflu as well as enough Tamiflu powder to make 30 million doses.

NORWAY -- A "pandemic committee" will meet this week. Authorities have stored flu medicine covering one-third of the 4.7 million population.

PORTUGAL -- Has stocks of 2.5 million doses of Tamiflu, sufficient to treat a quarter of the population. Airport authority is providing information to passengers going to or returning from Mexico City on prevention/detection measures.

* ROMANIA -- Enforced airport checks and stepped up biosecurity at its pig farms.

* RUSSIA -- Recommends Russians avoid trips to Mexico.

-- Has extended its ban on raw meat imports to the U.S. states of Indiana and New Jersey. Russia now applies a ban on all types of raw meat and meat products originating from the states of California, Texas and New York. A ban on raw pork and pork products will be applied to Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Florida. Last Sunday Russia applied a ban on meat imports from Mexico and countries of Central America and the Caribbean.

* SERBIA -- Already implementing a set of sanitary and preemtive measures against swine flu, including distribution of leaflets to passengers going to or arriving from countries with recorded cases. Stockpiles of antivirals will be tripled.

SLOVAKIA - With a population of 5.4 million, it has around 700,000 doses of Tamiflu in state reserves.

SLOVENIA - Has 500,000 units of Tamiflu, enough to treat a quarter of Slovenia's population.

SPAIN -- Distributes leaflets to passengers arriving from Mexico. Flights to Mexico are being equipped with face masks and gloves. Spain has a stockpile of 10 million doses of Tamiflu.

* TURKEY -- Carrying out health tests on passengers at airports and harbours who arrived from infected countries and advises postponing non-essential travel to these countries. Thermal cameras were installed in the main airports. Turkey has sufficient anti-viral stockpiles.

UKRAINE -- Bans imports of live pigs and pork meat from countries where cases of swine flu have been recorded - Mexico, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. All shipments received after April 21 will be subject to the ban.

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