Organizing committee: Bird flu has no affects on winter Olympics

The Organizing Committee for the 20th Winter Olympics said Sunday that Italy's newly reported H5N1 bird flu cases would not affect the on-going Games.

"We are not specifically concerned. I mean, we will do what we are asked to do. But so far, nothing has been said (by the local health authorities)," Giuseppe Gattino said at a press briefing.

Italian Health Ministry confirmed Saturday that H5N1 bird flu virus had been detected in a total of 21 dead swans on the island of Sicily and elsewhere in the southern part of the country.

Gattino said local governments of the affected regions had responded quickly and taken strict preventative measures to prevent the disease from spreading.

"At the moment, no avian influenza case is in Piemonte (where Turin is located)," he said.

He said the Organizing Committee of the Turin Olympics was in close contact with local government and health authorities and would be informed of as soon as any precautionary should be taken.

The 20th Winter Olympic Games was being held in Turin from Feb. 10 to Feb.26.

Source: Xinhua