Group to advise on disease control

AN expert group to provide ongoing advice in relation to bird flu control measures has been set up by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

The group includes veterinary, scientific and ornithological expertise from within and outside her department.

It will be chaired by Professor Michael Monaghan of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicines at UCD, who fulfilled a similar role at the time of foot-and- mouth disease in 2001.

Ms Coughlan said a range of measures are already in place here to deal with avian influenza.

These measures and all aspects of the contingency plan are kept under active review.

However, the recent spread of the virus to wild birds in Europe was of concern as it increased the risk of its introduction here.

Ms Coughlan said she would be asking the expert group to advise her of the circumstances in which it would be appropriate to require the compulsory housing of domestic poultry and other birds.