THE member of the European Parliament for the East of England has called for an immediate ban on poultry from countries with confirmed cases of bird flu – warning that the region s poultry farmers face a crisis if nothing is done. Robert Sturdy MEP said

THE member of the European Parliament for the East of England has called for an immediate ban on poultry from countries with confirmed cases of bird flu - warning that the region's poultry farmers face a crisis if nothing is done.

Robert Sturdy MEP said the ban is essential to prevent the HN51 virus reaching the UK.

"What we know is that it is only a mater of time before it reaches the United Kingdom and, in the words of the Government's chief scientific adviser, it could stay with us for five years.

"As a deadly virus, we should be extra vigilant and do all we can to keep it out of our country - hence the urgent need for a ban.