H5N1 bird flu confirmed in Suffolk

Bebi · H5N1 bird flu confirmed in Suffolk

ITV News
3.40, Sat Feb 3 2007

Officials have confirmed that the turkeys killed by bird flu at a Suffolk farm did die from the H5N1 strain.

A sample taken from the dead birds was analysed by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency who confirmed it was the notorious strain of the disease which has, in some cases, transferred to humans.

Government vets investigated the outbreak at the Bernard Matthews poultry farm after hundreds of turkeys died.

Experts were called to the farm near Lowestoft late on Thursday following the outbreak of an "unexplained" illness.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said preliminary tests had confirmed a bird flu outbreak.

It is the second time in less than 12 months that an East Anglian poultry farm has been hit by bird flu.

More than 30,000 birds were slaughtered after chickens near Dereham, Norfolk, tested positive in April 2006.

http://www.itv.com/news/index_46914864648e80e3aed24322c82df21e.html

Update:

H5N1 bird flu confirmed in Suffolk
6.36, Sat Feb 3 2007

Britain has been struck with its first outbreak of the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu at a farm in Suffolk.

Tests have confirmed the dangerous form of avian flu on a Bernard Matthews farm in Suffolk, following an outbreak in which more than 2,000 birds died.

Government officials have been keen to reassure the public there is no need to panic, as the risk to humans is "negligible".

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said all 159,000 turkeys on the affected poultry farm would be slaughtered as a precaution and that he was hopeful the outbreak would be contained.

Maria Zambon, from the Health Protection Agency, has reassured consumers that poultry is still safe to eat, as there is no evidence that avian flu could be contracted from food.

She added: "Bird flu doesn't transmit easily to humans - human disease occurs as a result of direct contact with poultry, in some way handling birds or carcasses."

Workers at the farm have been offered prophylaxis such as Tamiflu, and those culling the birds are also being offered the drugs and protective clothing.

Although 164 people have died of H5N1 since January 2003, mostly in Asia and the Middle East, all have come into direct contact with infected poultry.

At the moment not a single case reported across the globe has been a result of human to human contact.

http://www.itv.com/news/index_46914864648e80e3aed24322c82df21e.html