February 7, 2007

EU resisting vaccination for its flocks but urges poultry to be kept indoors

European Union veterinary experts advised member states on Tuesday to keep poultry indoors in high-risk bird flu areas but would not implement widespread vaccination of flocks for now.

Governments also were asked to review plans to fight the disease, the EU's executive Commission said in a statement.

Experts, representing the EU's 27 member governments, held a meeting to discuss whether there should be

mass vaccination of poultry flocks against the disease and decided not to do so, saying it is not feasible at this time.

Britain, which was hit by bird flu this week, had no plans for a widespread vaccination campaign.