UK: Tests Show Dead Birds Have H5N1 Vrus
02/03/2007
BBC News - London, UK
Tests have confirmed that the avian flu which killed 2,600 turkeys at a Suffolk farm is the H5N1 virus.
That virus can be fatal if it is passed on to humans and further tests will determine if it is the same strain as found in Asia.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Commission carried out the tests.
Defra have said that the 159,000 other turkeys on the farm will also have to be slaughtered.
According to an EC statement, a three-kilometre protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone will now be set up at Holton, which is approximately 17 miles south-west of Lowestoft.
The statement also said: "Further tests to characterise the virus are underway in order to ascertain whether or not it is the Asian strain.
"Strict movement controls are in place, poultry must be kept indoors, there is a prohibition on gatherings of poultry and other birds and on-farm biosecurity measures will be strengthened."
Vets were called to the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton on Thursday night.
A Defra spokeswoman has said the risk of the disease spreading to humans was low and there was no need for panic.
In addition Defra has revoked the national general licence on bird gatherings and bird shows and pigeon racing will not be permitted.
Bart Dalla Mura, Bernard Matthews commercial director, said the birds had not been imported and were raised in a shed.
National Farmers Union president Peter Kendall told BBC News 24 the top priority would be eradicating the outbreak.
He also said he felt "enormous concern, both for the whole farming community and the producers of poultry in the United Kingdom.
"[We will be] making sure we get the message across about how well this will be managed and controlled.
"We're encouraging all farmers to be incredibly vigilant, look at their flocks carefully and we do need to reassure consumers that this is not an issue about the safety of poultry - it's completely safe to eat."
Professor John Oxford, a virologist at the London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, said he was confident the outbreak could be contained.
He said: "I don't think it has made any difference as a threat to the human population. The most likely explanation is that a small bird has come in through a ventilation shaft.
"One good thing about this virus is that it's easily destroyed. You can kill it with a bit of detergent.
"You want to move in and take action straight away and I'm sure they'll be doing that."
The farm has been placed under tight restrictions and samples from the dead birds were examined at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey.
Defra said the alarm was raised by the farmer after he noticed "significant mortality" among his flock.
The first deaths happened on Tuesday 30 January when 71 chicks died, said Defra.
A further 186 died the following day and 860 died on 1 February.
Some 1,500 died on Thursday, making a total of 2,617.
There are 15 types of bird, or avian, flu. The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7.
There are nine different types of H5. The nine all take different forms - some are highly pathogenic, while some are fairly harmless.
The type currently causing concern is the deadly strain H5N1, which can prove fatal to humans.
In May last year, more than 50,000 chickens were culled after an outbreak of the H7 bird flu in farms in the neighbouring county of Norfolk.
One member of staff at the farm contracted the disease and was treated for an eye infection.
In March 2006, a wild swan found dead in Cellardyke, Fife, was found to have the H5N1 strain of the virus, which has been responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people, mostly in Asia.
AVIAN FLU FACTS