Bird flu outbreak reveals suffering (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Bird flu outbreak reveals suffering
11:00am Wednesday 14th February 2007 in Opinion By Telegraph letters
BRITAIN prides itself on being a nation of animal lovers, and yet barely a word has been uttered about the suffering endured by the 160,000 birds killed during the Bernard Matthews H5N1 bird flu outbreak.
The industry's claim that H5N1 has been spread by migrating birds is now discredited, as we are not in a migration season.
Since 1997, 164 people have died from H5N1 and 200 million birds have been slaughtered. These are unnecessary deaths.
If we are to prevent further epidemics of diseases such as H5N1, foot and mouth and BSE, we need to end intensive farming, close down livestock markets and prevent long distance travel of farmed animals.
RICHARD MOUNTFORD, Development Manager, Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge.
