Posted February 3, 200718 yr Last Updated: Saturday, 3 February 2007, 11:59 GMT BBC News Tests show bird flu is H5N1 virus The European Commission says tests have confirmed that the avian flu which killed 2,600 turkeys at a Suffolk farm is the H5N1 virus. That virus can be fatal if it is passed on to humans. According to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, there were 159,000 other turkeys on the farm, and they may now be slaughtered. Vets were called to the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton late on Thursday night. According to an EC statement, a three-kilometre protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone will now be set up. The statement also said: "Further tests to characterise the virus are underway in order to ascertain whether or not it is the Asian strain. "Strict movement controls are in place, poultry must be kept indoors, there is a prohibition on gatherings of poultry and other birds and on-farm biosecurity measures will be strengthened." A Defra spokeswoman has said the risk of the disease spreading to humans was low and there was no need for panic. Bart Dalla Mura, Bernard Matthews commercial director, said the birds had not been imported and were raised in a shed. National Farmers Union president Peter Kendall told BBC News 24 the top priority would be eradicating the outbreak. He also said he felt "enormous concern, both for the whole farming community and the producers of poultry in the United Kingdom. "[We will be] making sure we get the message across about how well this will be managed and controlled. "We're encouraging all farmers to be incredibly vigilant, look at their flocks carefully and we do need to reassure consumers that this is not an issue about the safety of poultry - it's completely safe to eat." Professor John Oxford, a virologist at the London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, said he was confident the outbreak could be contained. He said: "I don't think it has made any difference as a threat to the human population. The most likely explanation is that a small bird has come in through a ventilation shaft. "One good thing about this virus is that it's easily destroyed. You can kill it with a bit of detergent. "You want to move in and take action straight away and I'm sure they'll be doing that." AVIAN FLU FACTS There are 15 types of bird, or avian, flu. The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7. There are nine different types of the H5 strain. The nine types take different forms - some are pathogenic, others are harmless. The farm has been placed under tight restrictions and samples from the dead birds were examined at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey. Defra said the alarm was raised by the farmer after he noticed "significant mortality" among his flock. The first deaths happened on Tuesday 30 January when 71 chicks died, said Defra. A further 186 died the following day and 860 died on 1 February. Some 1,500 died on Thursday, making a total of 2,617. There are 15 types of bird, or avian, flu. The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7. There are nine different types of H5. The nine all take different forms - some are highly pathogenic, while some are fairly harmless. The type currently causing concern is the deadly strain H5N1, which can prove fatal to humans. In May last year, more than 50,000 chickens were culled after an outbreak of the H7 bird flu in farms in the neighbouring county of Norfolk. One member of staff at the farm contracted the disease and was treated for an eye infection. In March 2006, a wild swan found dead in Cellardyke, Fife, was found to have the H5N1 strain of the virus, which has been responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people, mostly in Asia. Suffolk County Council have set up a bird flu helpline on 08456 032 814. Comments?
February 3, 200718 yr Its a lot of fuss about nothing tbh, the only way we can get it is to shove our hand up the ass of an infected bird and none of us have that kind of fetish No doubt the papers will have a field day and tell us we are all going to die but the chances of getting it are billions to one
February 3, 200718 yr Oh well I have nothing to worry about lol... lol yeah we will be fine ^_^ There has been so many scares over the years of things that will supposedly kill us - Salmonella from eggs, mad cow disease, foot and mouth disease and now bird flu, next year it will be something else :unsure:
February 3, 200718 yr lol yeah we will be fine ^_^ There has been so many scares over the years of things that will supposedly kill us - Salmonella from eggs, mad cow disease, foot and mouth disease and now bird flu, next year it will be something else :unsure: Well I meant that even if you get it from eating the chicken I wont have to worry. Salmonella is dangerous though, I do take these things seriously. People have died from it, hardly nothing to worry about.
February 3, 200718 yr Well I meant that even if you get it from eating the chicken I wont have to worry. Salmonella is dangerous though, I do take these things seriously. People have died from it, hardly nothing to worry about. Yeah but I mean that one particular incident a few years back when the agriculture secretary Edwina Currie said that the UK egg industry is infected with salmonella and everyone was urged not to buy eggs as she said because of the salmonella, the media went mad and papers had 4 page pullouts etc and the egg industry was in crisis and a grand total of 0 ppl were affected by it and Edwina Currie lost her job
February 3, 200718 yr This seems to have happened just as the media lost interest in the whole bird flu outbreak.
February 3, 200718 yr Yeah but I mean that one particular incident a few years back when the agriculture secretary Edwina Currie said that the UK egg industry is infected with salmonella and everyone was urged not to buy eggs as she said because of the salmonella, the media went mad and papers had 4 page pullouts etc and the egg industry was in crisis and a grand total of 0 ppl were affected by it and Edwina Currie lost her job she said that oposite my house! on the footage mushytowers is in the background, and my ex mrs car clearly visable ...lol
February 3, 200718 yr lol blimey I probably saw your place then as I remember the incident at the time
February 3, 200718 yr Its a lot of fuss about nothing tbh, the only way we can get it is to shove our hand up the ass of an infected bird and none of us have that kind of fetish I won't be stuffing the christmas turkey this year :lol:
February 3, 200718 yr Thank god I don't work for Defra anymore! :lol: After the farce with FMD, thats all I would have needed!
February 3, 200718 yr I thought you were still with Defra. :blink: Who are you with now then? :unsure:
February 3, 200718 yr I thought you were still with Defra. :blink: Who are you with now then? :unsure: Natural England, a NDPB formed out of the Rural Development Service part of Defra, English Nature and part of the Countryside Land Agency. I am now a Public Servant, not a Civil Servant. Many disadvantages, but no more Defra involvement.
February 4, 200718 yr :lol: you won't get bird flu unless you do something like snort turkey droppings :lol: anyone want to guess the impact on Bernard Matthew's sales? and will this see the demise of those horrid turkey twizzlers :puke:
February 4, 200718 yr anyone want to guess the impact on Bernard Matthew's sales? and will this see the demise of those horrid turkey twizzlers :puke: God I hope so. I can't understand why parents buy those things for their kids. :blink:
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