The virus is transmitted by live birds. It's not in the poultry meat and it's certainly not in eggs.

This is a very nasty virus. It's doing enormous damage in the Far East at the moment, and it's got into Russia. If it got here, it would be economically disastrous, never mind the human impact, so we do need to be spending more than we have been spending.

It's important to clarify that the avian influenza virus is not new to wild birds.

The ban was only on meat, live ostrich and fertile eggs that can be hatched.

This virus is deadly to some birds, but not all birds, so some birds can carry it and appear healthy. What do people need to know, number one, is there's no reason for panic.

I don't eat much meat, fish, or poultry.