Fears over Thai chicken

THE European Union warned last night that it would take action against Thai chicken imports if human cases of bird flu are officially confirmed in the kingdom.

However, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Food said that to date there is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted from poultry to humans, other than by direct contact with infected birds.

Ireland does not import live poultry from south-east Asia. The risk from poultry meat is negligible, as the virus is destroyed during meat maturation, by cooking and by stomach acid, a spokesman said.