NI contingency plan over bird flu

Millions of birds have died or been culled across Asia

A contingency plan is in place in Northern Ireland to deal with the threat of bird flu sweeping through south east Asia, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.

Thailand confirmed its first two cases of avian flu in humans on Friday, while a Thai man tested for the virus has died.

The European Union responded with a ban on imports from Thailand on all poultry and poultry products slaughtered after 1 January with immediate effect.

Imports of steamed poultry heated to 70 degrees C can continue as this process kills the virus.

BIRD FLU ALERT First jumped "species barrier" from bird to human in 1997 In humans, similar symptoms include fever, sore throat, and cough Types known to infect humans are influenza A subtypes H5N1 and H9N2 Q&A Avian flu

Bird flu has affected poultry in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea - and also Vietnam, where it has killed five people.

The World Health Organisation has warned that the latest outbreak could mutate and become more dangerous to humans.

Northern Ireland's chief vet, Bert Houston, said on Friday that preparations have been made similar to those for the foot and mouth outbreak.

"Thailand have confirmed their infection, the European Community has put a precautionary ban in place and we have our contingency plans in place," he said.

"We have checked the imports, and we are responding to the threat that is with us at this time."

More than 10,000 people are employed in Northern Ireland's poultry industry.

Warning

The World Health Organisation warned that the latest outbreak could mutate and become more dangerous to humans.

Bird flu has been ravaging Asian flocks, but has so far only jumped from birds to humans in a handful of cases.

The latest bird flu outbreak has been spreading across Asia for weeks, but until Thailand's announcement, it was only known to have jumped to humans in Vietnam.

BIRD FLU TIMELINE Nov 2003 - Thailand deals with what it calls chicken cholera 15 Dec - S Korea confirms bird flu outbreak 9 Jan 2004- UN sends help to Vietnam after bird flu outbreak 11 Jan - First of five Vietnamese deaths confirmed as bird flu 13 Jan - Japan confirms bird flu outbreak 15 Jan - Taiwan announces different strain of bird flu 21 Jan - Laos reports suspected chicken cholera 23 Jan - Thailand confirms first human cases of bird flu 23 Jan - Cambodia detects first case in chickens

WHO spokesman Bob Dietz, speaking in Vietnam, said that it could become more of a threat to humans as it spread because its form may alter.

"It is impossible to predict a time or date for this, but there are mounting opportunities for the virus to alter its form and begin affecting the human population," Mr Dietz said.

The Lancet medical journal also issued a dire warning on Friday, saying standard vaccines would be useless against the virus if it started spreading through humans.

At present, there is no evidence to suggest it can be passed on from one person to another.