UK's avian flu risk still "low", but farmers asked to make contingency plans
UK - Poultry farmers have been told to make plans on how their birds could be moved indoors at short notice, should it become necessary because of avian flu.The request has come from the government’s chief vet Debby Reynolds.
Dr Reynolds said the latest assessment suggested that there is a high risk of further global geographic spread of avian flu in birds.
“The risk to the UK can be described as "an increased, but still low likelihood of the imminent introduction of H5N1 to the UK".
But she added: "All of us - government and the poultry industry - need to be prepared.”
Dr Reynolds said the government recognised the challenge that organic and free range producers would face if their birds needed to be housed indoors.
“We are working with the European Commission to find ways of protecting the status of their products if that were to happen.
Source: FWi
9 November 2005
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