If there is delay in getting culling teams out, delay in any part of the chain, even weeks, that could have great implications for the virus to spread.

What is important to me is there has been consensus and clarity, (and) much better coordination. We'll be much quicker to control avian influenza as a result.

There is a chance that we could have at least as many dying from communicable diseases as we've had dying from the tsunami.

If there is delay in getting culling teams out, delay in any part of the chain, even weeks, that could have great implications for the virus to spread.

Every country in the world now needs to have its veterinary services on high alert for H5N1 to be sure they are not caught unawares.

There are some quite tricky challenges facing everybody working in Crimea and I shall be engaging with various government people.

We are watching very closely to see how the disease associated with bird flu, when it hits humans, is evolving.