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| Hungary bird flu link 'likeliest' | Hungary bird flu link 'likeliest' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Imported poultry from Hungary is the "most plausible" cause of the UK bird flu outbreak, government scientists have now indicated. | Imported poultry from Hungary is the "most plausible" cause of the UK bird flu outbreak, government scientists have now indicated. |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there was "little evidence" of wild birds spreading the disease to Suffolk. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there was "little evidence" of wild birds spreading the disease to Suffolk. |
| The H5N1 strain found on the site is nearly identical to that in Hungary. | The H5N1 strain found on the site is nearly identical to that in Hungary. |
| Bernard Matthews, the Suffolk plant's owner, has lifted a voluntary ban on poultry movement to and from Hungary. | Bernard Matthews, the Suffolk plant's owner, has lifted a voluntary ban on poultry movement to and from Hungary. |
| The company imposed the ban on 8 February during concern over the outbreak at its Suffolk plant. | The company imposed the ban on 8 February during concern over the outbreak at its Suffolk plant. |
| The government has now completed its interim epidemiological report into the source of the outbreak. | |
| Original source | |
| It said wild birds were unlikely to be the source of the outbreak as H5N1 has not been found in such birds since August last year, and surveillance at the Holton plant in Suffolk failed to find any infected animals. | |
| Fred Landeg, deputy chief vet, said: "We may never be able to conclusively pinpoint the original source of the virus." | |
| An investigation led by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found there was no evidence of meat coming from inside the restricted zone around the outbreak in Hungary to the UK. | |
| The investigation team found all food importing and processing activities at the Bernard Matthews plant at Holton complied with European law. | |
| A parallel investigation by the Health Protection Agency found there had been little risk for workers at Holton and there was no need for antiviral treatment. | |
| Meanwhile, officials have also lifted a ban on gatherings of birds, such as shows, sales and racing, outside the restricted zones, as well as changing rules on shooting and keeping of domestic birds within the restricted zones. | |
| Disinfecting operation | |
| Bernard Matthews has defended the handling of the outbreak saying that there were no attempts at a cover-up. Sales have fallen 40% at the firm. | |
| Bird flu was found at the Holton plant on 3 February. | Bird flu was found at the Holton plant on 3 February. |
| Following a cull and a disinfecting operation, the plant started to receive consignments of turkeys from other sites in the UK on Tuesday. | Following a cull and a disinfecting operation, the plant started to receive consignments of turkeys from other sites in the UK on Tuesday. |
| Some Bernard Matthews turkey products have already been cleared by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to be released for sale. | Some Bernard Matthews turkey products have already been cleared by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to be released for sale. |
| The company had been voluntarily holding the products at cold stores in Chesterfield and at Holton. | The company had been voluntarily holding the products at cold stores in Chesterfield and at Holton. |
| The first consignment of turkeys after the government gave the company the go-ahead to resume operations arrived at the Holton plant on Tuesday. | The first consignment of turkeys after the government gave the company the go-ahead to resume operations arrived at the Holton plant on Tuesday. |
| The government has emphasised that properly cooked poultry is safe to eat. | The government has emphasised that properly cooked poultry is safe to eat. |