The Government has been accused of "dangerous complacency" on avian flu on the eve of a meeting of EU experts to prepare a co-ordinated defence against an outbreak.
Labour spokeswoman on agriculture Dr Mary Upton has called for a more proactive stance to be taken to cope with the disease "when, not if, it arrives here".
The World Health Organisation yesterday said it would build a first line of defence against a feared global bird flu pandemic with a major drug donation from a leading Swiss firm. The United Nations agency said a donation by Swiss drugmaker Roche of enough Tamiflu antiviral to treat three million people could slow the spread of the outbreak among humans, especially in countries too poor to afford their own stockpile.
Dr Upton, who is also a scientist, said she was extremely unhappy with the lack of planning to protect humans and animals from the disease which was certain to arrive here. "With bird migrations to Europe over the next few months," she said, "there is a real danger that the virus could spread to humans. The Government must not underestimate the potential risk to public health posed by avian flu.
"We are facing a real danger to human health from the spread of this disease by wild birds or illegal imports. We have had three years to plan for this because we know it has been coming.
"We should have a full system in place that when it is imminent, we just have to press the button."
The Government should have a plan to take every possible step, including housing free-range poultry and pigs, to which the deadly strain of the disease, H5NI, could be transmitted.
While the Department of Agriculture said it would be represented at today's standing committee on the food chain and animal health in Brussels, a more pro-active stance should be taken at the earliest opportunity, she said.
The Brussels meeting is being held against a growing urgency in Europe to defend itself against the disease, which has already arrived in Russia. WHO director-general Lee Jong-wook has warned of its spread: "If it hits and we are unprepared, there will be millions and millions of deaths."
The Department of Agriculture has said the risk of migrating birds bringing the disease here was considered to be low.