Politician voices World Cup bird flu fears

A leading member of Germany’s Green party has called for this summer’s World Cup finals to be scrapped if strains of the deadly bird flu virus reach the country.

With the disease already reported to have made it to Rugen in the north of the country, Barbel Hohn, president of the Agricultural Parliamentary Committee of the Upper House of the German Parliament, fears an outbreak of the virus could cause widespread disruption.

She said: “Let us just say that the virus is there and there is a large event taking place, then I would definitely say we should consider cancelling it.”

Hohn believes it would be a simple precautionary decision, adding it would be in the interests of the general public.

Organisers of the World Cup, which is set to take place between June 9 and July 9, have already had to contend with reports questioning the safety standards of its stadia, as well as criticism of its ticket allocation methods.