Farmers to monitor bird flu scare

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Scottish farmers must remain vigilant after an outbreak of bird flu at an English poultry farm, according to union officials.

The National Farmers Union (Scotland) said there were no immediate fears among members that the disease would spread north of the border.

However, an offical urged poultry producers to continue to closely monitor the situation.

More than 2,000 turkeys died following an outbreak near Halesworth in Suffolk.

Tests for the dangerous form of avian flu were carried out at the European Union laboratory in Weybridge.

The EU Commission later confirmed that the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu had been found.

Low risk

The farm at the centre of the outbreak was identified as the Bernard Matthews site at Holton by trading standards officials.

The H5N1 strain has been discovered in the UK before.

In March 2006, a wild swan found dead in Cellardyke, Fife, was found to have that form of the virus, which has been responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people, mostly in Asia.

Speaking to BBC Scotland's news website, James Withers, of NFU Scotland, said: "We will be keeping an eye on the situation. There are no immediate concerns at the moment.

"We would remind the country's poultry producers to remain vigilant."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced on Friday that preliminary tests had confirmed the bird flu outbreak in Suffox.

However a spokeswoman said the risk of the disease spreading to humans was low and there was no need for "panic".

She said staff at the farm were being monitored and restrictions were in force to stop birds being moved in or out of the site.

It is the second time in less than 12 months that poultry reared in England has been hit by bird flu.

More than 30,000 birds were slaughtered after chickens near Dereham, Norfolk, tested positive in April.