H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak in Suffolk England
The type of bird flu found in turkeys on a Suffolk farm is the virulent H5N1 strain, according to government vets.
The virus was discovered on Sunday at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss, where all 6,500 birds, most of them turkeys, are being slaughtered.
A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been set up and the farm is co-operating with vets.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that there might be further undisclosed cases of the disease in the area.
Mr Benn told the House of Commons:
“I’m not going to speculate as to whether this outbreak is going to get larger.
“What we’re doing is working our darndest to make sure that it stays where it is.
“The most important thing, having locked it down, is to trace the contacts and movements so we can take appropriate action.”
A national and a local disease control centre have been established in Bury St Edmunds, with text messages sent to all bird keepers nationwide – especially those in zones on the poultry register.
Mr Benn said that movements within the restricted zones can take place, but not out of it. General licences for low risk movements out of the zone are expected to be available “shortly”.
Source: BBC.
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