EU to assemble bird flu, animal disease "swat" team
Source: Reuters
BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A "swat" team of experts to tackle bird flu and other animal diseases is being assembled to fight outbreaks within the European Union and other countries. "When there is a serious animal disease outbreak ... very quick reaction is essential and efficient expert support can be crucial in bringing the situation under control," the European Commission said in a statement on Tuesday. While the EU has often dispatched teams of veterinary experts to help deal with disease crises -- to Romania and Turkey to assist during bird flu outbreaks in 2006, for example -- those teams have been successfully organised at short notice. But finding people with the appropriate expertise who were readily available could take time, the commission said, adding that EU governments would now be asked to submit lists of experts they proposed to become members of an EU-wide emergency team. "The aim in creating this ... team is to have experts in the fields of veterinary, virology, wildlife, laboratory testing, risk management and other relevant areas on stand-by, ready to respond when an animal health crisis breaks out," it said. When necessary, team members would be sent to the affected EU or non-EU country to provide technical assistance and to work with local authorities in bringing any disease under control. They would also collaborate closely with experts from international organisations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and International Office of Epizootics (OIE).
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