The European Union is to ban the import of all untreated feathers, in the latest attempt to control the spread of outbreaks of the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu in wild birds that is intensifying around and within Europe?s borders.

Several European governments on Wednesday ordered a nationwide poultry lock-up from February 20. The new cases have had a dramatic effect on Europe?s ?20bn poultry sector. Sales in Italy have plunged more than 50 per cent, in France, their down by 15 per cent, and in Germany sales were 10 -15 per cent below normal.