Australian poultry safe from Bird Flu

The federal government has issued a statement saying that cooked poulty and eggs are perfectly safe to eat, despite some poultry producers fencing-in free range chickens.

The federal government has issued a statement saying that cooked poulty and eggs are perfectly safe to eat, despite some poultry producers fencing-in free range chickens.Agriculture Minister Warren Truss says some free range suppliers have placed their chickens in sheds and other inclosed pens to prevent them contracting avian influenza from wild birds.Mr Truss says it is just a precautionary measure and it is unlikely migrating birds like ducks pose a significant risk of infection, because most are flying back to Asia.”The greatest risk at this stage would be if someone unsuspectingly brought into this country live birds or eggs or feathers, and our quarantine officials at airports and seaports and in our international mail facilities are giving a high priority to inspecting luggage and baggage,” he said.(Source: ABC Health News, Feb 2004)