Government bird flu plans criticised

The government has been criticised for failing to stockpile supplies of a bird flu vaccine in preparation for a possible outbreak in Britain.

Patrick Holden, director of Soil Association, accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" for not stockpiling the vaccine.

Earlier this week, ministers said that the vaccines were too costly and doubts were also raised about the effectiveness of a vaccination programme.

However, Mr Holden said that every available method should be used to fight the deadly H5N1 virus. He said: "Whilst avian flu has not yet arrived in the UK, it remains a clear threat. I am dismayed that no action has been taken to secure sufficient stocks of the vaccine, should they be required.

"If we escape the disease winging its way in via wildfowl pushed westwards by unusually cold weather across Europe, we have a window to prepare for the greater likelihood of it coming in with the autumn migration - but action is required now to build up a vaccine bank."

EU officials are holding a second day of talks in Brussels to discuss whether to introduce a vaccination programme. France put forward the vaccination proposal last week, following the discovery of the first case of bird flu in the country. The proposal has been backed by the Netherlands, which was forced to slaughter 30 million birds following a bird flu outbreak there three years ago.

Bird flu has now been found in Greece, France, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany and Slovakia.

However, nine dead swans found in several areas in Britain last weekend tested negative for the disease.

In Germany, France and the Netherlands, farmers have been ordered to bring all poultry indoors. However, earlier this week Defra said that poultry would only be brought indoors in the UK if the virus was confirmed in Britain.

UK farmers were issued with new guidance this week, telling them to prepare to bring their flocks indoors within 24 hours of the virus being discovered in Britain.

Ninety-one people have died from avian flu since 2003. Most of those who died are believed to have contracted the disease from being in close contact with infected poultry.

However, experts fear that the virus could mutate into a form which passes easily between humans and could develop into a pandemic.

(KMcA/GB)