ALBANIA: Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha invites journalists to eat chicken, in a bid to prevent bird flu fears

Record ID: 565097

  • Title: ALBANIA: Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha invites journalists to eat chicken, in a bid to prevent bird flu fears
  • Date: 15th March 2006
  • Summary: MEDIA FILMING
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABA6I23OINTG2KBEOT2DI1JNN1
  • Story Text: Albania's prime minister invited journalists to watch him eat chicken, in a bid to stem the panic that has arisen from the discovery of avian flu in the country.
    At a hotel on Monday (March 13) Sali Berisha seemed to thoroughly enjoy tucking into some cooked chicken in front of the cameras.
    He said there was no need for people to avoid eating chicken that has been properly cooked in sufficiently hygienic conditions, and then invited the journalists to join him in the meal.
    Albania's first case of the virus was confirmed last week after a chicken was found to have died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the Sarande area. It was found 20 km (12 miles) north of the border with Greece, close to the Butrint lagoon, a known resting ground for migratory birds.
    The bird flu virus has spread rapidly since the beginning of February, and is now present in most European countries. It has infected 176 people world-wide, killing 96 since 2003.
    Scientists fear it is only a matter of time before it mutates into a form that passes easily among people, triggering a pandemic.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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