Experts are trying to spread the word that conditions in Britain are so different from Asia and Africa that the chance of human infection is infinitesimal. They also stress that no human bird flu cases have ever been traced to eating properly cooked poultry or eggs.

For Bernard Matthews PLC -- whose turkeys were infected by the H5N1 strain -- the economic consequences could be devastating. Britain's largest poultry producer has had to slaughter 159,000 turkeys; while the company refuses to release a figure, experts say damages could run into millions of dollars.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 10, 2007
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