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Upham farm bird flu: Three people tested for infection | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Three people have been tested for bird flu following an outbreak at a farm in Hampshire. | Three people have been tested for bird flu following an outbreak at a farm in Hampshire. |
Work is under way to slaughter 10,000 chickens at the farm in Upham. | Work is under way to slaughter 10,000 chickens at the farm in Upham. |
Tests showed the outbreak as a "low severity" H7 strain of the disease, a much less serious form than the H5N8 strain found at a Yorkshire duck farm, in November. | Tests showed the outbreak as a "low severity" H7 strain of the disease, a much less serious form than the H5N8 strain found at a Yorkshire duck farm, in November. |
There are no links between the two cases, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said. | There are no links between the two cases, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said. |
It said "robust action" was being taken to prevent any spread of the disease. | It said "robust action" was being taken to prevent any spread of the disease. |
A 1km (0.6 mile) poultry movement restriction zone has been imposed around the commercial chicken breeding farm. | |
'Potential to mutate' | |
According to advice from Public Health England (PHE), Defra said the strain posed very low risk to human health. | According to advice from Public Health England (PHE), Defra said the strain posed very low risk to human health. |
An investigation into the possible sources of the outbreak is under way. | |
Chief vet Nigel Gibbens said it was important to find out whether the avian flu case had come from somewhere else or if it has spread. | |
However, he said early indications showed there was "no strong likelihood that happened". | |
"We have to consider the possibility that it came from wild birds in the area," he added. | |
Paul Townsend, from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), said the cull was necessary in order to "stamp out" the strain which could "potentially mutate to become a more highly pathogenic version, having more severe affects". | |
Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery has praised the owner of the farm, whom he said had reported the case to the authorities. | |
The premises will be quarantined for three weeks and barns will also be disinfected. | |
There is no food safety risk for consumers, according to the Food Standards Agency. | There is no food safety risk for consumers, according to the Food Standards Agency. |
Defra said anyone suspecting avian influenza should immediately contact their nearest APHA office. | |