A regular meeting of the EU Council on Agriculture and Fisheries took place in Brussels. One of the central agenda items of the meeting of agriculture ministers of the 25 EU member states was the situation with the spread of the avian influenza virus in the territory of the EU and beyond its borders. \n \nMinisters were particularly concerned by the fact that the threat of an "avian influenza" outbreak arose in France. The Ministry of Agriculture of that country confirmed that tests of a dead duck found on February 13 in eastern France showed the presence of the H5 strain, and most likely it is the H5N1 substrain that is deadly dangerous to humans. \n \nThousands will die from "avian influenza" \n \nMeanwhile, well-known Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst made public his forecast regarding the spread of "avian influenza" and the possible consequences of the epidemic. The scientist stated that in the event of a mass spread of the disease in Belgium, between 20,000 and 30,000 people could die. At the same time, the national coordinator for the prevention of the spread of "avian influenza," Piet Vanthemsche, stated that the virus of this dangerous disease could affect 25-30% of Belgium's population, which exceeds ten million people. At the same time, the economic damage as a result of a possible epidemic for this European country will amount to 3-6 billion euros. \n \nThe number of possible victims of the epidemic in Italy has not yet been calculated. So far, cases of migratory birds dying from the H5N1 virus are being recorded in that country. Thus, in the central region of Italy - Umbria, on Lake Trasimeno, a dead wild duck was found. Before that, "avian influenza" was detected in two dozen dead swans found in the southern Italian regions of Apulia, Calabria, and on the island of Sicily. \n \nZoos will be closed \n \nBut "avian influenza" is not only gripping Europe. Thus, the zoo in Cairo was closed. The authorities of Egypt made this decision after several feathered residents died of avian influenza. Tests confirmed that the birds were infected with the H5N1 virus. To prevent the spread of the disease, another 563 birds had to be destroyed. \n \nNearly 1 million birds will be destroyed in India at the epicenter of the "avian influenza" epidemic in the state of Maharashtra. The destruction of birds is also underway in the neighboring state of Gujarat. Mass vaccination of poultry has begun in the country. \n \nAccording to the Indian government, 95 people have been hospitalized on suspicion of infection with "avian influenza," but so far none of them has been confirmed. \n \nPrinted in the newspaper "DELO" No. 82 of February 21, 2006.