Bird flu fears grip Europe press

Bird flu has grabbed headlines across Europe as the deadly H5N1 strain spreads to more countries, including at least six in the European Union.

A number of papers however warn against giving in to panic and urge a measured response.

France's Le Figaro

Bird flu is present, the collective panic too. A wild duck, found dead this weekend, was the bearer of ill omens. France is fated not to escape the H5N1 virus... France is the country which is doubtless best prepared for the arrival of the fatal virus. But farmers understandably are raising the alarm: we are the leading European producer of poultry, and consumers' fears, more than the disease itself, are likely to have tragic consequences for many farms. They are exaggerated fears, we should remember, because bird flu, like every kind of flu, is a respiratory infection and cannot be caused by eating roast chicken or duck conserve!

Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

The photos of dead swans have caused a mood of near-panic, even amongst MPs and ministers... A greater sense of proportion in dealing with avian flu would be appropriate.

Germany's Der Tagesspiegel

Politicians are on the right path. We need measures which show a sense of proportion, disaster scenarios are out of place.

Italy's La Repubblica

Italy's confederation of agricultural producers has issued a new warning over the effects that fear of bird flu is having on the poultry industry and has again asked for help. It says the industry risks collapse.

Italy's La Stampa

In face of the 30,000 jobs put at risk by the avian flu emergency, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is calling for calm and warns against the psychosis unleashed by the chicken fever. The colossal losses sustained by the industry (poultry sales down by 70% in two days) worry the president of the republic.

Denmark's Berlingske Tidende

The discovery of two dead swans on the German Baltic coast had barely become known before headlines about the ravages of bird flu took over the front pages... The disease will reach Denmark sooner or later, but there is no need to fear that an epidemic will spread through the population with the same disastrous effects as the Spanish flu after World War I. It is important to bear in mind that the illness only passes from animal to human in extreme circumstances... The population's anxiety stems from ignorance. Detailed and reliable information is therefore what is most needed here and now.

Spain's El Pais

The government considers it unlikely that these northern swans will reach Spain and has decided to postpone the more drastic measures - like ordering all poultry to be kept inside until March when the migratory birds arrive from West Africa. The position may be formally correct, but it requires a degree of optimism to think that thousands of back yards in a thousand villages can be dealt with by a last-minute ministerial order. In order for this order to be obeyed when it comes, it is necessary to send out much clearer messages right now.

Hungary's Nepszabadsag

The main opposition party Fidesz has already accused the government of failing to take any precautionary measures. If there are irresponsible acts which can cause panic, the Fidesz statement is definitely one of them. One can only hope that the bird flu issue will remain a veterinary problem.

Estonia's Eesti Paevaleht

Europe is getting ready for bird flu. Hospital beds have been prepared; medication has been purchased. But Estonia is addressing the matter in its usual way - with indifference... If the government does not prepare for the epidemic, everyone will have to manage on their own. Yes, certainly it is possible that there will not be an epidemic or that it will pass us by. But the old folk knew: better safe than sorry. That applied to oil pollution, and now it also applies to bird flu.

Austria's Die Presse

Swans are ancient symbols of eternity and melancholy. Now the swans are lying with twisted necks on the ice and we are horrified. They are harbingers of death, fallen angels... The swans have become a symbol for the constant threat to mankind from microbiology... But we need our helpers from the world of microbiology to breathe and digest, for our immune system. No, 'nature' has no 'intention' of wiping us out.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.