| Author (Person) | Davies, Eric | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series Title | In Focus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series Details | 29.4.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication Date | 29/04/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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While the world's attention is focused on the SARS virus, Europe's farmers are facing what the Financial Times calls 'a lethal epidemic ... ravaging Europe's farmyards.' An outbreak of avian influenza (AI - also known as 'chicken flu') which started in the Netherlands at the end of February has now resulted in some 18 million poultry being slaughtered there, with nearly a million culled in neighbouring Belgium where the outbreak was confirmed on 15 April. The disease is highly contagious among chickens, turkeys and ducks. Meeting on 23 April 2003, to discuss the situation in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed to extend restrictive measures until 12 May. Under the controls - intended to prevent the spread of the disease and eradicate it - no live poultry, hatching eggs and fresh, unprocessed poultry manure or litter may be exported to other Member States or to third countries. Within the Netherlands there are also restrictions on the transport of live poultry and hatching eggs, culls of poultry have been undertaken in 'buffer zones' around infected areas, and pigs housed on infected holdings are being tested (with any animals which test positive also being subject to transport restrictions). 'Susceptible' birds in zoos might be vaccinated against the virus. In Belgium, similar measures to those implemented in the Netherlands were adopted on 16 April. Although avian flu is not generally serious for human health, one Dutch vet has died in the current outbreak. More usually, people are affected by conjunctivitis and/or respiratory problems. Thus far, 82 cases of conjunctivitis due to AI have been reported in the Netherlands and one in Belgium. There is no risk of humans contracting the virus from eating poultry or eggs - it is passed by contact with sick birds. According to the World Health Organization, avian influenza does not appear to pass easily between people. With the memory of foot-and-mouth disease still relatively fresh, and the trade and political consequences of the BSE disaster officially laid to rest only recently, there is concern that Europe's farmers might be facing yet another disaster. The economic consequences could be severe. In the Netherlands, a spokesman for the Product Boards for Livestock, Meat and Eggs - quoted by the BBC - described the situation as 'a complete disaster. It is not a question of how many businesses and farms will go down, but how many will be left standing once this is all over.' Producers will be hit by the bans on selling poultry, hatching eggs and chicken manure (for use as fertiliser). The Netherlands is one of the world's biggest poultry producers, exporting a million live birds every day. The 18 million chickens slaughtered so far represent some 20% of the country's stock. The European Commission estimated that €140m will be needed to pay for killing the birds and disposing of their bodies. 50% of the cost will be met by the Commission. Links:
Eric Davies The EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health met on 23 April 2003 to discuss the outbreak of avian flu in the Netherlands and Belgium and agreed to extend restrictive measures until 12 May 2003. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
