This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/6325963.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mystery illness kills 1,000 birds | Mystery illness kills 1,000 birds |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Government vets are investigating an outbreak of an illness which has killed 1,000 turkeys on a farm in Suffolk. | Government vets are investigating an outbreak of an illness which has killed 1,000 turkeys on a farm in Suffolk. |
| The birds are being tested for a number of diseases at a farm, understood to be near Halesworth, including avian flu. | The birds are being tested for a number of diseases at a farm, understood to be near Halesworth, including avian flu. |
| But officials have stressed it is would be premature to say they are looking at a suspected case of bird flu. | But officials have stressed it is would be premature to say they are looking at a suspected case of bird flu. |
| Vets from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) say the results of preliminary tests should be known on Friday night. | Vets from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) say the results of preliminary tests should be known on Friday night. |
| A Defra spokeswoman said: "We are currently investigating a report of unexplained illness on a poultry farm in the Suffolk area." | A Defra spokeswoman said: "We are currently investigating a report of unexplained illness on a poultry farm in the Suffolk area." |
| She said reports were received late on Thursday night and the premises were immediately placed under restrictions. | She said reports were received late on Thursday night and the premises were immediately placed under restrictions. |
| 'Significant mortality' | |
| "A full investigation began at 0900 GMT this (Friday) morning, with samples being sent to Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, for testing," she said. | "A full investigation began at 0900 GMT this (Friday) morning, with samples being sent to Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, for testing," she said. |
| Sources at Defra have told the BBC that the alarm was raised by the farmer after he noticed "significant mortality" among his flock. | |
| About 80% to 90% of the turkeys in the shed were showing signs of illness - going off their food and general malaise - classic symptons of Avian Flu. | |
| However scientists said the flock had not died as quickly as they would expect if this was bird flu. | |
| They also point out that a number of infections can kill turkeys in such a large number. | |
| 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. |