A TOWY Valley poultry trader insists 0he is not losing any sleep over the current bird flu crisis that is threatening to engulf the nation.

At least 160,000 turkeys have already been culled after the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease was found at a farm in Suffolk.

The situation has become so precarious that five countries, including Hong Kong, Japan and South Africa, have banned imports of UK poultry.

So far, the Bernard Matthews' farm has been identified as the only source of the disease in this country and a Llanwrda duck breeder is refusing to let the recent case bother him - for the time being, at least.

Graham Barnard, of Ty Cwmdar in Cwrt-y-Cadw, told the Guardian that unless there are further outbreaks throughout the country, he will not get caught up in the issue.

He said: "We will see how it develops in the next ten to 14 days, but I'm not really that worried about it at the moment.

"By that time, we will know if it has gone anywhere else in the country.

"It is not something that keeps me awake at night, but I will be extremely worried if cases start springing up in other parts of the country.

"But at the moment, there is no need for us to panic."

Mr Barnard did however, admit that contingency plans were in place should the disease spread.

"Our birds are netted and we have buildings to store them should we need to," he said.

A Defra spokesman said: "There is no reason for public health concern.

"Avian influenza is a disease of birds and while it can pass, very rarely and with difficulty, to humans, this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly their faeces.

"As a precautionary measure those who might have been exposed would be offered the appropriate treatment and protection in line.

"Advice from the Food Standards Agency remains that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat."