If avian influenza gets to Straseni ...

The district of Straseni is hosting a bird flu simulation exercise between November 24 and 27. The exercise was organized with the direct support of the World Bank and involves a series of state institutions called to deal with a possible outbreak within their capacities and competences, Info-Prim Neo reports. The exercise was preceded by a number of activities aimed at protecting the livestock and the population from dangers related to avian influenza. At the opening of the exercise, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatol Spivacenko said that this is the third such exercise held in Moldova. Besides practical exercises, steps were taken to formulate and implement the normative and legislative framework needed to coordinate the work of the institutions mandated to intervene in emergencies. World Bank expert Edvins Olsevskis spoke about Latvia's experience in organizing and holding similar exercises. “Though Moldova does not house many migratory birds and is not among the countries facing increased contamination risk, you should follow Latvia's and other countries' example and organize such exercises,” the expert said. The simulation exercise brought together representatives of different state institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Finance. Moldova was not declared bird flu-stricken country though some of the countries of the region met with serious related problems.