Via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Bird flu virus 'unlikely to reach Australia.' Excerpt:
An international conference in Brisbane has been told that it is unlikely a deadly strain of the bird flu virus will ever reach Australia.
It is the first time Australia has hosted the World Poultry Congress, with more than 2,000 delegates attending the first day.
Immunologist and Nobel prize-winner Peter Doherty says although the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain has killed 240 people overseas, Australia's dry climate and isolation will help prevent the virus entering the country.
"It's not something we have to worry about," he said.
But virus expert Dr Andrew Turner says there is still a slight risk.
"We have to be prepared, it may not be H5N1 which starts the pandemic - there are other viruses circulating in birds at the moment," he said.
However he says Australia's strict quarantine system is helping keep bird flu out of the country.
An inquiry into last year's horse flu outbreak blamed weak quarantine procedures for the spread of the virus.
Dr Turner says poultry is monitored more closely than horses.
Update: Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary has a good analysis of this story, which he finds confusing and reflective of generally poor reporting on H5N1.
