Contingency plan?

Measures in place since October 2005 include establishing local and national committees for intervention. GPs are on alert to isolate anyone infected and advice has been given to the public. Anyone travelling to countries with human infection is to be given anti-virals. Hunting of wild birds has been banned in certain areas. Border controls are in place.

Vaccine research?

Romania believes it is ready to manufacture a vaccine, but that it would need World Health Organization approval.

Anti-virals stocks?

As of January, the state had 500,000 anti-viral doses, of which it had distributed 300,000. A further one million are on order. It has about 15,000 capsules of the anti-viral Tamiflu.

Other information? Special measures enforced in areas affected by bird flu include a cull of house birds, quarantine, vaccines for inhabitants, disinfectant spraying of vehicles and a ban on activities like fishing. The virus has been found in 33 sites nationwide, and more than 150,000 birds have been culled since the first discovery of the virus in October. Romania is judged to be at risk of developing human infection because half the population lives in poor rural areas without good sanitation.

Information correct as of 21 February 2006