Bird flu fears hit poultry price
WALES - A state of alert over bird flu could last for five years even if it never arrives in Britain.The warning from Wales' chief vet Christianne Glossop follows the prediction from the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir David King that avian influenza will inevitably arrive in UK and may become endemic in wild birds.
"We are in a state of alert and we may have to be in this position for months," said Dr Glossop.
"An outbreak could happen tomorrow, it could happen in six months and it might never happen. But we are ready and we have plans to deal with it."
The warnings come as prices for live birds slump across Wales amid reports of owners off-loading birds to avoid the possible consequences of an outbreak.
Source: icWales
7 March 2006
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