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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hungary import 'link' to bird flu | Hungary import 'link' to bird flu |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The bird flu outbreak at a Bernard Matthews farm in Suffolk may be linked to imports from the firm's plant in Hungary, the government has said. | |
| The pathogenic H5N1 strain was found on a Hungarian geese farm in January. | The pathogenic H5N1 strain was found on a Hungarian geese farm in January. |
| In a statement, Deputy Chief Vet Fred Landeg said a possible route of infection was from imported poultry. | |
| Meanwhile, tests on culled birds from three sheds near to the site on the Suffolk farm from which the virus was first traced show strains of H5N1. | |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said preliminary scientific tests showed the Hungary and UK viruses "may well be identical". | |
| "Defra, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency are investigating the possibility of a link between the Hungarian outbreaks, poultry meat from Hungary and the introduction of disease in the farm in Suffolk," it added. | "Defra, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency are investigating the possibility of a link between the Hungarian outbreaks, poultry meat from Hungary and the introduction of disease in the farm in Suffolk," it added. |
| It is important that this is investigated thoroughly, along with all the other possible routes Fred Landeg, deputy chief vet | |
| The risk to human health remains negligible and properly cooked poultry is safe to eat, it said. | The risk to human health remains negligible and properly cooked poultry is safe to eat, it said. |
| Defra said partly-processed turkey had been transported by lorry from Hungary to the Suffolk farm each week. | |
| Mr Landeg told the BBC that the "working hypotheses" was that the infection came into the farm through such an import. | |
| He said the latest tests "seems to indicate that this is an infection that has been passed from poultry to poultry and it is less likely that this was the introduction of wild birds into the Suffolk premises". | |
| But he stressed: "It is important that this is investigated thoroughly, along with all the other possible routes." | |
| He said an "apparent spread" of H5N1 was indicated by confirmation that the virus was found in another three out of a total of 22 sheds on the farm. | |
| Imports suspended | Imports suspended |
| Tens of thousands of turkeys had already been culled at the farm at Holton, south-west of Lowestoft, as a precaution. | |
| The company also has a processing facility division in Sarvar, Hungary. | The company also has a processing facility division in Sarvar, Hungary. |
| Defra said Bernard Matthews was temporarily suspending the movement of poultry products between the two outlets until the investigation was complete. | |
| Defra said poultry is continuing to be imported into Britain from Hungary as long as it is not from restricted areas. | Defra said poultry is continuing to be imported into Britain from Hungary as long as it is not from restricted areas. |
| In a statement, Bernard Matthews said it continues to work closely with Defra in its investigation. | In a statement, Bernard Matthews said it continues to work closely with Defra in its investigation. |
| "We want to reassure consumers that Bernard Matthews products are perfectly safe to eat." | "We want to reassure consumers that Bernard Matthews products are perfectly safe to eat." |
| It said the Hungarian government, as well as its own inquiries, had established no link with movements between the two sites. | It said the Hungarian government, as well as its own inquiries, had established no link with movements between the two sites. |