Crows found in the center of the capital did not die of bird flu

The death of those 6 crows found this weekend, on Stefan cel Mare Blvd. of the capital was not caused by avian influenza. The director of the republican veterinary diagnosis center, Vitalie Chilaru, announced about this. According to Chilaru, on Monday, at 23:00 it was proved that the tests for bird flu are beyond doubt negative. Moreover, preliminary tests were followed by a high precision PCR test, implemented in Moldova beginning with April 28, 2006. According to him, it is useless to continue with alternative tests, as the H5NI virus wasn’t identified, and to the alternative laboratories in Bucharest and Great Britain only positive samples are sent for reconfirmation. As regards to the risk of bird flu in the situation when it was confirmed in the Romanian district of Iasi, few kilometers from the border, Vitalie Chilaru mentioned that on the whole territory of Moldova are organized intensive activities of ensuring biologic security. The last days, all the specialists of the republican veterinary diagnosis center paid visits in different regions of the republic in order to check the implementation of the bio-security program. Any violation of the latter, especially in private households, was eliminated, Chilaru mentioned. At the same time, additional security measures were undertaken at farms – the old poplars where crows gathered were cut down, the access on the territory of the farms is allowed with special equipment and after disinfecting shoes and cars, and every bird farm is under permanent surveillance. If any bird flu suspicions are to appear, a hot line functions at the Veterinary Diagnosis Center – 74-29-08. Daily, 5-6 calls are registered; all announced suspicions are compulsory checked. Recently, a mobile phone line was open – 0.69.11.70.13 for collecting information on bird flu suspicions. Beginning with October 14, the diagnosis center made 5,492 tests of bird flu.