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| Experts hunt for bird flu source | Experts hunt for bird flu source |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Experts are still trying to determine the source of an outbreak of bird flu at a Suffolk farm as a cull of thousands of turkeys nears its end. | Experts are still trying to determine the source of an outbreak of bird flu at a Suffolk farm as a cull of thousands of turkeys nears its end. |
| Nearly 160,000 turkeys are being gassed to contain the outbreak at the Bernard Matthews site near Lowestoft. | Nearly 160,000 turkeys are being gassed to contain the outbreak at the Bernard Matthews site near Lowestoft. |
| Officials say the risk the H5N1 strain poses to humans is "negligible", but are planning in case of a flu pandemic. | Officials say the risk the H5N1 strain poses to humans is "negligible", but are planning in case of a flu pandemic. |
| The government's crisis management committee Cobra is to meet for updates on efforts to contain the disease. | The government's crisis management committee Cobra is to meet for updates on efforts to contain the disease. |
| There are industry concerns that the outbreak may hit poultry sales - Japan has temporarily suspended imports of UK birds. | There are industry concerns that the outbreak may hit poultry sales - Japan has temporarily suspended imports of UK birds. |
| UK's bird-flu preparations Bird watchers stay vigilant Farmer reacts to threat | UK's bird-flu preparations Bird watchers stay vigilant Farmer reacts to threat |
| Investigations are continuing into how the disease, identified as the "highly pathogenic" Asian strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, entered the poultry flock. | Investigations are continuing into how the disease, identified as the "highly pathogenic" Asian strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, entered the poultry flock. |
| Government vets say the strain was similar to a case in geese in Hungary in January and there are suggestions the disease could have been spread by wild birds. | Government vets say the strain was similar to a case in geese in Hungary in January and there are suggestions the disease could have been spread by wild birds. |
| But experts have acknowledged it may be impossible to trace the exact cause of the outbreak. | But experts have acknowledged it may be impossible to trace the exact cause of the outbreak. |
| Exclusion zone | Exclusion zone |
| The cull at the farm at Holton, about 27km south-west of Lowestoft is expected to be completed by Monday morning. | The cull at the farm at Holton, about 27km south-west of Lowestoft is expected to be completed by Monday morning. |
| Fourteen sealed lorries containing the bird carcasses have been travelling to a rendering plant in Cheddleton, Staffordshire, for incineration. | Fourteen sealed lorries containing the bird carcasses have been travelling to a rendering plant in Cheddleton, Staffordshire, for incineration. |
| Q&A: Bird flu Send us your comments | Q&A: Bird flu Send us your comments |
| The authorities have denied their response was slow. | The authorities have denied their response was slow. |
| Rural Affairs Minister Ben Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm satisfied that everyone has moved as quickly as they possibly could have." | Rural Affairs Minister Ben Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm satisfied that everyone has moved as quickly as they possibly could have." |
| He said only a small number of birds had died on Tuesday and Wednesday, which had not been unusual. | He said only a small number of birds had died on Tuesday and Wednesday, which had not been unusual. |
| But when more than 800 died on Thursday, the state veterinary service was informed and restrictions put in place. | But when more than 800 died on Thursday, the state veterinary service was informed and restrictions put in place. |
| What each zone means | What each zone means |
| A biosecurity zone has been set up around the farm and poultry owners in the restricted area have been told to keep their flocks isolated from wild birds. | A biosecurity zone has been set up around the farm and poultry owners in the restricted area have been told to keep their flocks isolated from wild birds. |
| A three-kilometre protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone also remain in place around the farm site. | A three-kilometre protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone also remain in place around the farm site. |
| A much wider restricted zone covering 2,090 sq km is bordered by the A140 to the west and the A47 to the north and almost to Felixstowe in the south. | A much wider restricted zone covering 2,090 sq km is bordered by the A140 to the west and the A47 to the north and almost to Felixstowe in the south. |
| Health experts have been quick to quell fears the virus found in Suffolk could be passed on to humans. | Health experts have been quick to quell fears the virus found in Suffolk could be passed on to humans. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/03_02_07_defra_plan.pdf">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, and 100 of the 2,000 staff who work 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, and 100 of the 2,000 staff who work at the Holton farm have been given the Tamiflu anti-viral drug. |
| A Bernard Matthews spokesman said none of the affected birds had entered the food chain and there was no risk to public health. | A Bernard Matthews spokesman said none of the affected birds had entered the food chain and there was no risk to public health. |
| United Nations co-ordinator for bird flu, David Nabarro, has said farmers will have to get used to the presence of the disease in the UK as it is "going to be in bird populations for several years to come". | United Nations co-ordinator for bird flu, David Nabarro, has said farmers will have to get used to the presence of the disease in the UK as it is "going to be in bird populations for several years to come". |
| 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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