EU veterinary experts meet in wake of bird flu outbreak
European Union veterinary experts are holding talks today to assess public and animal safety measures taken by British health officials in wake of an outbreak of bird flu on a turkey farm.
The 27 national experts were not expected to take added measures at this time officials said, after the European Commission said they were satisfied with the quick actions taken by Britain over the weekend to contain the virus, which health experts have already identified as the deadly H5N1 strain.
All 159,000 turkeys at a vast commercial farm in Suffolk, were ordered slaughtered after 2,500 birds died of the of bird flu. Authorities have also cordoned off an eight mile perimeter around the farm to contain the outbreak, following agreed to EU measures.
The veterinary panel regularly monitors EU measures against animal diseases and last year adopted a set of more stringent control and containment rules meant to fight the spread of the H5N1 strain.
The Netherlands however, yesterday ordered birds be kept indoors or behind chicken wire and protective netting at farms in wake of the outbreak.
