Europe 'unprepared for bird flu'
 

Europe is not properly prepared for a flu pandemic and has inadequate supplies of vaccines and antiviral drugs, according to an internal European Commission document obtained by the Financial Times.

The internal EU document says 16 of the 25 members have informed Brussels about their supplies of antiviral drugs, which would be used if avian flu jumps across to humans.

The report said: "There are complaints from member states [and third countries] that orders from some countries have reserved all manufacturing capacity for several years to come, leaving no possibilities for others who may be hit first."