UK: BIRD FLU SCARE NOT MADE PUBLIC
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayN...Node=146274&contentPK=14502581&folderPk=75999http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146278&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146274&contentPK=14502581&folderPk=75999
09:50 - 20 May 2006
Government ministers covered up a suspected outbreak of bird flu at an animal rescue centre for more than a week, it emerged yesterday. Officials sealed-off a bird sanctuary for seven days after scientists found evidence that 13 wild geese had been exposed to the H5 bird flu virus, according to a top vet.
But despite promising to be open about any possible outbreak, ministers from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) did not make the scare public.
Although the wild geese - found at an unnamed rescue centre in Somerset - eventually tested negative for the disease there was widespread criticism yesterday about the secrecy of the operation.
The incident, which took place last October, only came to light when it was mentioned in a single paragraph in the annual report of Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds.
Mrs Reynolds gave brief details about the situation but officials are still refusing to name the bird rescue centre in question.
Conservative MP for Bridgwater, Ian Liddell-Grainger, said: "It is totally unacceptable for the Government to try and keep this sort of thing secret.
"If the concerns are sufficient to impose movement restrictions for more than a week, then the public, and particularly poultry farmers, deserve to be to be told so they can make their own precautions. It is not good enough for ministers to say they 'don't want to worry people'.
"The public has the right to know and if it happens again the appropriate information must be issued.''
A Defra spokesman insisted there had been "no need'' to inform the public about the incident and that the birds in question had been exposed to the H5 bird flu virus but did not have flu and were not put down.
He said: "It is not uncommon to find low traces of avian flu in wild birds.
"Consequently there was no need to communicate that information."
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayN...Node=146274&contentPK=14502581&folderPk=75999http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146278&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146274&contentPK=14502581&folderPk=75999
09:50 - 20 May 2006
Government ministers covered up a suspected outbreak of bird flu at an animal rescue centre for more than a week, it emerged yesterday. Officials sealed-off a bird sanctuary for seven days after scientists found evidence that 13 wild geese had been exposed to the H5 bird flu virus, according to a top vet.
But despite promising to be open about any possible outbreak, ministers from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) did not make the scare public.
Although the wild geese - found at an unnamed rescue centre in Somerset - eventually tested negative for the disease there was widespread criticism yesterday about the secrecy of the operation.
The incident, which took place last October, only came to light when it was mentioned in a single paragraph in the annual report of Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds.
Mrs Reynolds gave brief details about the situation but officials are still refusing to name the bird rescue centre in question.
Conservative MP for Bridgwater, Ian Liddell-Grainger, said: "It is totally unacceptable for the Government to try and keep this sort of thing secret.
"If the concerns are sufficient to impose movement restrictions for more than a week, then the public, and particularly poultry farmers, deserve to be to be told so they can make their own precautions. It is not good enough for ministers to say they 'don't want to worry people'.
"The public has the right to know and if it happens again the appropriate information must be issued.''
A Defra spokesman insisted there had been "no need'' to inform the public about the incident and that the birds in question had been exposed to the H5 bird flu virus but did not have flu and were not put down.
He said: "It is not uncommon to find low traces of avian flu in wild birds.
"Consequently there was no need to communicate that information."