U.S. helps fight bird flu flare-up

The U.S.  Agency for International Development has presented Ukraine with $43,000 worth of equipment to help fight the avian flu outbreak in Crimea, and more assistance is scheduled to arrive at the end of the month, said U.S.  Ambassador John Herbst at a Dec.  21 press conference. The assistance, in the form of protective clothing and chemicals, came after weeks-long consultations with Ukrainian government officials.  Herbst said that modern lab equipment will be shipped to Ukraine by the end of the month. "Avian flu is a serious threat for Ukraine and the rest of the world, and it requires a global response," said Herbst.  "The United States is in partnership with Ukraine in efforts to contain the outbreak and reduce its spread to other territories." Herbst said they have been working together with the Emergency Ministry and State Veterinary Service to carry out an informational campaign in local media aimed to raise awareness about the threat. He said providing valid information about the potential dangers to the public is even more important than concrete help. Vitaliy Romanchenko, deputy emergency minister, said that the expected laboratory equipment will be used test birds in Crimea for the virus. "Most of our equipment was made 10 to 15 years ago, and we will be asking [international organizations] for more assistance to modernize it," said Romanchenko. The bird flu outbreak in Crimea was officially announced on Dec.  3. On Dec.  14, the Health Ministry confirmed the outbreak was the deadly Asian strain H5N1, which has been recorded in at least 11 Crimean villages.  Birds are dying in another 14 villages on the peninsula. Experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could trigger a human flu pandemic if it mutates into a form that easily spreads among people.  Since 2003, the virus has killed at least 69 people in Asia - most of them farm workers who came into close contact with the infected birds. No cases of human infection have been recorded in Ukraine, officials said.  Some 25,284 people have been given flu vaccinations, and 436 people who had close contact with the dead birds are under special observation, the Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement.