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| Experts hunt for bird flu source | Experts hunt for bird flu source |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Experts are still trying to determine the source of an outbreak of bird flu at a Suffolk farm as nearly 160,000 turkeys are culled. | Experts are still trying to determine the source of an outbreak of bird flu at a Suffolk farm as nearly 160,000 turkeys are culled. |
| The government says the priority is to contain and eradicate the disease, identified as the H5N1 strain, at the Bernard Matthews site near Lowestoft. | The government says the priority is to contain and eradicate the disease, identified as the H5N1 strain, at the Bernard Matthews site near Lowestoft. |
| Strict controls are in place around the site, where turkeys are being gassed. | Strict controls are in place around the site, where turkeys are being gassed. |
| Officials say the risk posed to humans is "negligible", but there are concerns poultry sales will be hit. | Officials say the risk posed to humans is "negligible", but there are concerns poultry sales will be hit. |
| Experts are trying to find the source of the outbreak of the disease, identified as the "highly pathogenic" Asian strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus. | Experts are trying to find the source of the outbreak of the disease, identified as the "highly pathogenic" Asian strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus. |
| onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457026/html/default.stm','20070205151027306','toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=568,left=200,top=200');return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457026/html/default.stm" target="20070205151027306">Main poultry areas UK's bird-flu preparations Industry braced for backlash Bird watchers stay vigilant | |
| Tests could take weeks and it is possible the exact cause will never be known. | Tests could take weeks and it is possible the exact cause will never be known. |
| Meanwhile, Rural Affairs Minister Ben Bradshaw told the BBC he expected the cull of turkeys at the farm to be finished later. | Meanwhile, Rural Affairs Minister Ben Bradshaw told the BBC he expected the cull of turkeys at the farm to be finished later. |
| He said more than 120,000 turkeys had been culled in just two days. Carcasses are being incinerated at a rendering plant in Cheddleton, Staffordshire. | He said more than 120,000 turkeys had been culled in just two days. Carcasses are being incinerated at a rendering plant in Cheddleton, Staffordshire. |
| The government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King, told the BBC the virus was identical to a case in Hungary in January. | The government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King, told the BBC the virus was identical to a case in Hungary in January. |
| "There could be a direct contact between a Hungarian farm and the Bernard Matthews farm, by which I mean a person travelling from one to the other," he said. | "There could be a direct contact between a Hungarian farm and the Bernard Matthews farm, by which I mean a person travelling from one to the other," he said. |
| "Or more likely it is wild birds travelling across to Britain from that area." | "Or more likely it is wild birds travelling across to Britain from that area." |
| Speaking after a meeting of the government's emergency planning committee Cobra, Mr Bradshaw added: "It's not really terribly helpful to speculate at this stage what might have caused it. | Speaking after a meeting of the government's emergency planning committee Cobra, Mr Bradshaw added: "It's not really terribly helpful to speculate at this stage what might have caused it. |
| "What's much more important is that we satisfy ourselves that the outbreak has been eradicated and contained." | "What's much more important is that we satisfy ourselves that the outbreak has been eradicated and contained." |
| Q&A: Bird flu Send us your comments | Q&A: Bird flu Send us your comments |
| A biosecurity zone has been set up around the farm at Holton, south-west of Lowestoft. A 3km (1.9 miles) protection zone and a 10km (6.2 miles) surveillance zone remain in place. | |
| Poultry owners in a wider restricted zone have been told to keep their flocks isolated from wild birds | Poultry owners in a wider restricted zone have been told to keep their flocks isolated from wild birds |
| But BBC reporters discovered some chickens left outside just a mile from the farm. | But BBC reporters discovered some chickens left outside just a mile from the farm. |
| Mr Bradshaw said anyone breaching current instructions should be reported to the police, Defra or trading standards and officials would be scouring the area to make sure biosecurity was being adhered to. | Mr Bradshaw said anyone breaching current instructions should be reported to the police, Defra or trading standards and officials would be scouring the area to make sure biosecurity was being adhered to. |
| The authorities have denied their response was slow saying restrictions were immediately put on the farm, once it became clear birds were dying in large numbers. | The authorities have denied their response was slow saying restrictions were immediately put on the farm, once it became clear birds were dying in large numbers. |
| What each zone means | What each zone means |
| Japan and Russia have temporarily suspended imports of UK birds. | Japan and Russia have temporarily suspended imports of UK birds. |
| And Charles Bourns, chairman of the National Farmers Union's poultry board, said farmers were worried about the potential impact on sales and urged shoppers to keep eating British poultry. | And Charles Bourns, chairman of the National Farmers Union's poultry board, said farmers were worried about the potential impact on sales and urged shoppers to keep eating British poultry. |
| Health experts have been trying to quell fears the outbreak could spread to humans. | Health experts have been trying to quell fears the outbreak could spread to humans. |
| Defra contingency plan [372KB] Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Reader. Download the reader here | Defra contingency plan [372KB] Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Reader. Download the reader here |
| But the government is preparing for the small chance the disease could mutate into a form which causes a flu pandemic. | But the government is preparing for the small chance the disease could mutate into a form which causes a flu pandemic. |
| Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "It is a very remote risk but if it did happen it could be very serious indeed." | Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "It is a very remote risk but if it did happen it could be very serious indeed." |
| The avian flu virus has so far killed 164 people worldwide - mainly in south-east Asia - since 2003. All those who contracted the virus had come into close contact with infected birds. | The avian flu virus has so far killed 164 people worldwide - mainly in south-east Asia - since 2003. All those who contracted the virus had come into close contact with infected birds. |
| The virus has so far been detected in only one shed out of 22 at the site. About 100 of the 2,000 staff at the Holton farm have been given the Tamiflu anti-viral drug. | The virus has so far been detected in only one shed out of 22 at the site. About 100 of the 2,000 staff at the Holton farm have been given the Tamiflu anti-viral drug. |
| A spokesman for Bernard Matthews said: "None of the affected birds entered the food chain and there is no risk to consumers. | A spokesman for Bernard Matthews said: "None of the affected birds entered the food chain and there is no risk to consumers. |
| "Bernard Matthews continues to work very closely with Defra and other industry bodies. All proper procedures were followed and we responded accordingly in good time." | "Bernard Matthews continues to work very closely with Defra and other industry bodies. All proper procedures were followed and we responded accordingly in good time." |
| He added that the company had reassured staff and said there were no jobs at risk. | He added that the company had reassured staff and said there were no jobs at risk. |
| For more information call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77 | For more information call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77 |
| If you have any pictures from the scene you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text your pictures to 07725 100 100. | If you have any pictures from the scene you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text your pictures to 07725 100 100. |
| Scene of outbreak All poultry to be culledVisitors disinfected and restricted access 3km Protection Zone Poultry kept indoors and tested 10km Surveillance Zone No movement of poultry to or from area except for slaughterTrains carrying live poultry are prevented from stopping in the protection zoneBird fairs and markets bannedIncreased surveillance of wetland areasDomestic birds not to share water used by wild birdsFootpath restrictions likely only on free-range farmsPeople in towns not affected unless they keep poultry. Restriction Zone Isolation of poultry from wild birdsPoultry movements to be licensed Source: Defra | Scene of outbreak All poultry to be culledVisitors disinfected and restricted access 3km Protection Zone Poultry kept indoors and tested 10km Surveillance Zone No movement of poultry to or from area except for slaughterTrains carrying live poultry are prevented from stopping in the protection zoneBird fairs and markets bannedIncreased surveillance of wetland areasDomestic birds not to share water used by wild birdsFootpath restrictions likely only on free-range farmsPeople in towns not affected unless they keep poultry. Restriction Zone Isolation of poultry from wild birdsPoultry movements to be licensed Source: Defra |
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