BRUSSELS, Oct. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- European Union (EU) member countries on Thursday were urged to stockpile anti-viral drugs after confirmation that the bird flu virus found in Turkey is the H5N1 strain dangerous to humans.

    The EU should be ready for a potential flu pandemic, said EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

    "It is a highly pathogenic and aggressive virus and we in the European Union have to deal with that," said Kyprianou.

    The warning came after tests on dead birds in north-west Turkey confirmed the H5N1 strain. An outbreak in Romania is assumed to bethe same, the EU executive European Commission said.

    The H5N1 strain has killed more than 60 people in South East Asia since 2003.

    However, of those only one is suspected to have died after catching the virus from another human.

    Those who have been in the presence of dead or dying birds are most likely to become infected, and the chances of human-to-human transmission are still seen as very slim.

    Speaking at a news conference, Kyprianou advised seasonal flu vaccination for populations considered to be at risk and said governments should focus on stockpiling anti-viral drugs.

    "What is important is that it does become a priority for all member states and that they make an investment for preparing for this event," he said.

    Earlier on Thursday, the EU moved to ban all bird and poultry products from Romania after tests on three ducks which died last week in the Danube delta confirmed the presence of the weaker H5 strain of bird flu.

    Tests for the H5N1 strain are expected to be completed on the ducks on Friday.

    The EU has also banned the import of live birds and feathers from Turkey until April. Enditem