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Chickens confirmed with bird flu Chickens confirmed with bird flu
(20 minutes later)
Chickens on a farm in Oxfordshire have tested positive for the H7 strain of bird flu, Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has said. Chickens on a farm in Oxfordshire have tested positive for bird flu, Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens says.
All birds on the premises, near Banbury, are to be slaughtered as a precautionary measure. All birds on the premises, near Banbury, are being slaughtered.
Further tests are being carried out to see whether the strain is of high or low pathogenicity. The birds have been confirmed with the H7 strain of the disease, rather than highly virulent H5N1 strain, regarded as a potential threat to human health.
A temporary control zone with a 3km (1.8-mile) inner zone and a 10km (6.2-mile) outer zone is being set up. Tests are being conducted to determine the virulence of the H7 strain and a temporary control zone is being set up around the farm.
Human risk 'low'
Mr Gibbens said: "I would stress the need for poultry keepers to be extremely vigilant, practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately."
The control zone has a 3km (1.8-mile) inner zone and a 10km (6.2-mile) outer zone, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says.
Within the inner zone, all kept birds must be isolated from contact with wild birds. Bird gatherings and movements are banned within the whole zone, as is the movement of some products.
The Health Protection Agency said it would be following up those who had might have been in contact with the infected birds to offer them guidance and preventative medication.
However, it stressed the risk to human health from H7 avian influenza was low and said it did not transmit easily to humans.