BIRD FLU SMASHES INDIA POULTRY INDUSTRY IN ONE WEEK

$US1 BILLION LOST

1.5 MILLION JOBS GONE

One week into India's bird flu outbreak and a massive plunge in the number of people eating chicken and eggs has seen the Indian poultry industry shed one and a half million jobs and more than $US1 billion in losses.

The H5N1 virus was first detected in the the states of Maharashtra and Ucchal eight days ago. More than 250,000 chickens have since been slaughtered in efforts to contain the outbreak.

While experts the world over have clearly stated the deadly virus cannot be caught from eating cooked chicken, millions of Indians have removed the food staple from their menus. The entire $US13.5 billion dollar poultry industry in India is now under threat.

The industry employs some of the lowest paid workers in the country, but the massive losses have already led to the sacking of more than 60% of the 2.5 million poultry industry workers.

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