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.

The EU warning followed a decision by Japan to impose a precautionary ban after the Thai government reported three suspected human cases of the deadly bird flu.

Ireland imported 1,218 tonnes of poultry meat from Thailand in 2002 and 966 tonnes in the January-September period last year. But the amounts could be higher if account is taken of Thai poultry meat imported first into other EU member States and then forwarded to Ireland.

EU Health Commissioner David Byrne said he asked the Thai Agriculture Ministry for a written report on the situation. “ I am evaluating the situation hour by hour as it develops,” he said during an official visit to Thailand.

Experts said it was safe to eat cooked poultry and eggs and that there was no evidence yet of bird flu passing from person to person.