Fears grow over chickens vaccinated against Asian bird flu

CHICKENS vaccinated against Asian bird flu may be acting as ticking time-bombs by encouraging the virus to evolve into new strains, it was claimed yesterday.

Research has shown that viruses which survive in vaccinated chickens can speed up the rate at which they mutate.

Experts fear this may help the virus to transform into a strain that can be transmitted between people, possibly triggering a worldwide pandemic.