Confirmation that the avian flu which has killed 52 people in Asia has now been found in pigs in Indonesia was described as "very serious" by Mary Upton.
Dr Upton, who is a microbiologist and spokeswoman for agriculture and food for the Labour Party, said yesterday the discovery that avian flu H521 strain had jumped to yet another species raised the spectre of a pandemic.
Dr Upton, who has been pressing for tighter controls on food imports and better monitoring of travellers at airports and other points of entry, said she was concerned at the latest news from Asia. She said it had been shown that the virus can be transmitted from person to person but its discovery in another species was "potentially significant".
The discovery that the disease had been found in pigs on the island of Java increased the fear that pigs, which can carry human flu viruses that could combine with avian viruses, could lead to virulent new strains of flu.
World Health Organisation experts, who last week complained of lack of co-operation from the region in ridding the area of avian flu, fear the virus could mutate into a form that could pass easily among humans and trigger a global pandemic that could kill millions.
So far there have been no reports of people in Indonesia being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. However, since 2003, 36 Vietnamese, 12 Thais and four Cambodians have been killed by the H5N1 strain of the flu virus.
Dr Upton, who has complained that the monitoring of passengers coming through Dublin airport leaves a lot to be desired, said that in 2004, a mere 60,000 passengers were interviewed by Department of Agriculture staff on issues relating to importation of animal-based products. This represents less than 0.5 per cent of all passengers going through Dublin airport.
She said it was unlikely any person eating infected pigmeat from the area would get the disease if the meat was properly cooked.
However, it was important full controls be in place to prevent the illegal importation of any avian or other material that would place public health at risk.
A plan is being put in place by the Department of Agriculture and Food in the event of an outbreak of avian flu to give access to facilities, equipment, personnel and other material to control such an outbreak.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food said in the Dáil last week that Ireland's contingency plan was being updated in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children. In addition, operational and other aspects were being reviewed and various elements were being updated.