FG urges Govt to draw up plan for combating bird flu
Fine Gael has criticised the Government's alleged lack of preparedness for a potential outbreak of bird flu.
EU experts are meeting in Brussels today to prepare a defence against the virus following warnings from scientits that it could be spread to Europe by migrating birds.
The strain of bird flu causing worry across the world emerged in poultry stocks in south Asia two years ago.
It has killed dozens of people in the region since then and the World Health Organisation has warned that it could become more easily transmissable among humans and could spark a global influenza pandemic.
Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten has called on the Irish Government to ensure that it has a plan in place to prevent the disease from infecting poultry in Ireland.
"Steps need to be taken to reduce this risk and a specific and detailed plan needs to be put in place immediately," he said.
