Czech Republic to stock up on bird flu drug

The Czech Republic plans to stock up on anti-viral drugs thought to be effective against bird flu. By the end of the first quarter of next year there should be enough medicine to cover the needs of one fifth of the population, the country's chief hygienist Michael Vit said on Thursday.

Three swans have already died of bird flu around the town of Hluboka in south Bohemia. An EU laboratory in England has confirmed that one of them carried the H5N1 strain of bird flu that is potentially deadly to humans; the other two swans are still being tested. Special veterinary measures have been introduced in three and ten kilometre zones around Hluboka, in line with EU regulation.

Author: Dita Asiedu