EU disease control agency downplays bird flu fears

The European Union’s disease control agency today downplayed fears of bird flu infecting humans in Europe.

“The risk of infection for most people in Europe is close to zero,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Sweden.

The agency gave two guidelines for people to minimise the risk of being infected: don’t touch dead birds and only eat meat and eggs that are well prepared.

“If they follow these guidelines the risk is basically non-existent,” Jakab said.