FACTBOX-Measures against new flu in Europe

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By REUTERS

May 4 (Reuters) - Here is a guide to precautionary steps
being taken around Europe to combat a possible flu pandemic:

* Star denotes new or updated entry

EUROPE:

AUSTRIA -- Has stocks of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat
four million people (half the population) and has secured
production capacity for prophylactic vaccines for the entire
population. It has also stockpiled 8 million protective masks.

* BOSNIA -- Recommended citizens to avoid travel to infected
countries. Bosnia's Muslim-Croat federation has stocks of 12,000
boxes of Tamiflu and other anti-virals, enough to cover up to
three percent of the population of around 2 million. Bosnia's
Serb Republic said it has 5,000 boxes of anti-virals and has
ordered 50,000 more boxes and protective masks.

BRITAIN -- Launched a major advertising campaign to combat
the threat of the flu, popularly referred to as swine flu. The
"Catch it, Bin it, Kill it!" adverts urge people to use tissues
when they sneeze, dispose of them and then wash their hands.

-- Leaflets giving advice about the new H1N1 flu virus are
to be sent to every home in Britain from May 5.

-- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico.
Routine consular and all visa services at its embassy in Mexico
City have been suspended.

-- Has antiviral stockpiles for treatment of 50 percent of
the population.

BULGARIA -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to
Mexico. Two thermal scanners have been installed at Sofia
airport. Customs officers are also checking the luggage of
passengers arriving from Mexico, the United States, Canada and
Japan to ensure they are not importing pork products.

CZECH REPUBLIC -- Circulating general information on the
viral strain to hospitals, doctors and general practitioners.
Has stocks of two million doses of Tamiflu, enough to treat one
fifth of the population. At Prague Airport, information boards
on the flu have been put up and medical tests are available.

DENMARK -- A general pandemic plan has been in place since
the bird flu scare. Denmark has stockpiled Tamiflu.

FRANCE -- An information campaign will be launched next
week. Passengers arriving from Mexico will be tracked and their
health checked. Strongly advises against travelling to Mexico.

-- Has stocks of million antiviral treatments, composed of
24 million doses of Tamiflu and nine million doses of Relenza.

GERMANY -- Advises against non-vital travel to Mexico.

GREECE -- Authorities will step up monitoring and
information measures at the country's main entry points. More
infra-red scanners will be installed in some of the country's 21
international airports. Two such scanners are already installed
at the main airports of Athens and Thessaloniki.

-- Has "strategic stocks" of antiviral medicines and has
banned the export of anti-flu drugs Relenza (zanamivir) and
Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Leaflets are being handed out at the
airport. Passengers coming from infected countries are being
tracked and doctors at the airport will carry out checks.

HUNGARY -- Has installed medical imaging cameras in
Budapest's main Ferihegy airport to monitor passengers for the
virus. The cameras and linked computers analyse the
electromagnetic radiation of the human body.

ITALY - Pamphlets are being handed to passengers at Rome's
international airport. Italy has 10 million doses of Zanamivir
(Relenza) and 60,000 doses of Tamiflu as well as enough Tamiflu
powder to make 30 million doses. It recommends travellers
returning from Mexico stay at home for seven days.

NETHERLANDS - Has taken up an option of 19 million vaccines
against the virus.

NORWAY -- Has stored flu medicine covering one-third of the
4.7 million population.

* POLAND - Introduced closer checks of travellers coming
from Latin America, the United States and Canada.

-- Health Ministry and sanitary officials say there are "a
few tens of thousands of vaccines" available on the market.

-- Warsaw also advises against all travel to Mexico for now.

PORTUGAL -- Two charter flights to Mexico due to depart next
week have been suspended. Has stocks of 2.5 million doses of
Tamiflu, sufficient to treat a quarter of the population.

* ROMANIA -- Capacity now to treat around 460,000 cases with
anti-viral medication and can produce up to 7 million doses of
anti-flu vaccine per month if needed.

-- Recommends people avoid travelling to Mexico. Also
heightened epidemiological monitoring in airports across the
country and at border customs.

RUSSIA -- Recommends Russians avoid trips to Mexico.

-- Has ban on raw meat imports from the U.S. states of
Indiana and New Jersey. Russia also bans all types of raw meat
and meat products originating from the states of California,
Texas and New York. A ban on raw pork and pork products will be
applied to Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas,
Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Florida.

-- Has applied a ban on meat imports from Mexico and
countries of Central America and the Caribbean.

SERBIA -- Implementing a set of sanitary and pre-emptive
measures, including distribution of leaflets to passengers going
to or arriving from countries with recorded cases. Stockpiles of
antivirals will be tripled.

SLOVAKIA - With a population of 5.4 million, it has around
700,000 doses of Tamiflu in state reserves.

SLOVENIA - Has 500,000 units of Tamiflu, enough to treat a
quarter of Slovenia's population.

SPAIN -- Distributes leaflets to passengers arriving from
Mexico. Flights to Mexico are being equipped with face masks and
gloves. Spain has a stockpile of 10 million doses of Tamiflu.

TURKEY -- Carrying out health tests on passengers at
airports and harbours arriving from infected countries and
advises postponing non-essential travel to these countries.
Thermal imaging cameras were installed in the main airports.

UKRAINE -- Bans imports of live pigs and pork meat from
countries where cases of swine flu have been recorded - Mexico,
the United States, Canada and New Zealand. All shipments
received after April 21 are subject to the ban.

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