New dangerous strain of bird flu
19.11.2014
Question for written answer P-009485-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Nicola Caputo (S&D)
An outbreak of a highly pathogenic new strain of bird flu — H5N8 — has been discovered in the Netherlands, probably the same strain as that already reported in Britain and Germany.
It is the first time that this strain has been found in the European Union (up to now it had been found in Korea, Japan and China).
European experts are not ruling out other possible outbreaks in France, Spain and Italy, as they believe that migratory birds, perhaps swans, might be responsible.
Can the Commission therefore say:
- — what emergency and protection measures it intends to take to combat the spread of bird flu;
- — what the risks are to human health and to the food chain?