http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=africa&item=060303163652.xtc4q1s2.php
03/03/2006 16:36</CLASS> THE HAGUE, March 3 (AFP)</CLASS>
Several countries blocking international bird flu research: NGO</CLASS>
Several countries are refusing to cooperate with the international investigation into deadly H5N1 bird flu infections of wild birds, an environmentalist organisation claimed Friday.
"Some major countries frustrate the research by not letting research teams in ... Sudan, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran and Nigeria have so far failed to cooperate with vital and urgent international research," Wetlands International, a non governmental organisation, said in a press statement.
Wetlands International, which is based in the Netherlands, carries out research for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
With the French-based agricultural research centre Cirad it has been commissioned by the FAO to carry out H5N1 research among wild birds in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The organisation said that the reluctance to allow in researchers was due to the implications for poultry exports and tourism if the virus were found in wild birds in the country.
"It becomes harder to predict new outbreaks and to take the right precautions if we dont know the situation in these important countries. Turkey and Iran already experienced outbreaks of H5N1. Information about the current situation in these countries is very important to combat the disease," Wetlands International said.
03/03/2006 16:36</CLASS> THE HAGUE, March 3 (AFP)</CLASS>
Several countries blocking international bird flu research: NGO</CLASS>
Several countries are refusing to cooperate with the international investigation into deadly H5N1 bird flu infections of wild birds, an environmentalist organisation claimed Friday.
"Some major countries frustrate the research by not letting research teams in ... Sudan, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran and Nigeria have so far failed to cooperate with vital and urgent international research," Wetlands International, a non governmental organisation, said in a press statement.
Wetlands International, which is based in the Netherlands, carries out research for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
With the French-based agricultural research centre Cirad it has been commissioned by the FAO to carry out H5N1 research among wild birds in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The organisation said that the reluctance to allow in researchers was due to the implications for poultry exports and tourism if the virus were found in wild birds in the country.
"It becomes harder to predict new outbreaks and to take the right precautions if we dont know the situation in these important countries. Turkey and Iran already experienced outbreaks of H5N1. Information about the current situation in these countries is very important to combat the disease," Wetlands International said.