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Birds culled after flu outbreak Birds culled after flu outbreak
(about 1 hour later)
A cull of thousands of birds is under way after bird flu was confirmed in turkeys on a Suffolk farm.A cull of thousands of birds is under way after bird flu was confirmed in turkeys on a Suffolk farm.
The virus was discovered at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss, where all 6,500 birds are being slaughtered.The virus was discovered at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss, where all 6,500 birds are being slaughtered.
Vets are carrying out further tests on the turkeys at the centre of the outbreak to try to determine if they have the virulent H5N1 strain.Vets are carrying out further tests on the turkeys at the centre of the outbreak to try to determine if they have the virulent H5N1 strain.
A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been set up and the farm is co-operating with vets.A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been set up and the farm is co-operating with vets.
Officials said the outbreak was of the H5 strain, but it was yet not known if it was H5N1, which can be fatal to humans.Officials said the outbreak was of the H5 strain, but it was yet not known if it was H5N1, which can be fatal to humans.
Map of surveillance zone Map of surveillance zone
Police officers are at the entrance to the farm, and vehicles are being sprayed with a jet hose.Police officers are at the entrance to the farm, and vehicles are being sprayed with a jet hose.
A statement issued by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed preliminary tests showed the free-range turkeys at the farm had the H5 strain of bird flu. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed preliminary tests showed the free-range turkeys at the farm had the H5 strain of bird flu.
Some 10% of birds in one shed had died during one night, it said, adding that further tests were needed to see if the virus was H5N1, which has killed some 200 people worldwide.Some 10% of birds in one shed had died during one night, it said, adding that further tests were needed to see if the virus was H5N1, which has killed some 200 people worldwide.
At the affected premises, all birds - including approximately 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese - will be slaughtered within the next few hours. At the affected premises, all birds - including approximately 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese - will be slaughtered.
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The BBC's Andrew Sinclair, who is at the scene, said large trucks and gas canisters had been moved on to the premises earlier in preparation for the cull.The BBC's Andrew Sinclair, who is at the scene, said large trucks and gas canisters had been moved on to the premises earlier in preparation for the cull.
It is expected that all the birds will be gassed and then put in sealed containers.It is expected that all the birds will be gassed and then put in sealed containers.
We are asking every poultry keeper to be vigilant, to house their birds where they are required to do so in any restricted area and carry out good bio-security measures Fred LandegActing chief veterinary officer Latest blow for farmers Anxious wait for test results The top priority is to get controls in place, to inform people of the controls in place Heather PeckDefra regional manager Latest blow for farmers Anxious wait for test results
Officials said further surveillance work was ongoing in the area before decisions were made on any culls on neighbouring farms. Officials said further local surveillance work would happen before deciding on any culls on neighbouring farms.
Heather Peck, Defra's regional operations manager for animal health, told the BBC that efforts were now being made to try and find the source of the disease. Heather Peck, Defra's regional operations manager for animal health, said: "The top priority is to get controls in place, to inform people of the controls in place and that's largely done electronically these days.
She said: "The top priority is to get controls in place, to inform people of the controls in place and that's largely done electronically these days.
"The immediate priority for us here is both to cull the affected birds on the infected premises and to establish any possible contact or any potential traces of movement between those premises, or related premises or premises in the immediate vicinity.""The immediate priority for us here is both to cull the affected birds on the infected premises and to establish any possible contact or any potential traces of movement between those premises, or related premises or premises in the immediate vicinity."
Redgrave Poultry, which rents the farm, said that all employees at the site had been given antiviral drugs as a precaution and that the birds on the site had been moved indoors.Redgrave Poultry, which rents the farm, said that all employees at the site had been given antiviral drugs as a precaution and that the birds on the site had been moved indoors.
Reading out a statement, William Buchanan, one of the farm directors, said staff were "fully" co-operating with Defra. William Buchanan, one of the farm directors, said: "Sixty turkeys out of a flock of 1,000 from one house on the site were found dead. The site was immediately isolated and additional bio-security measures imposed."
He added: "Sixty turkeys out of a flock of 1,000 from one house on the site were found dead. The site was immediately isolated and additional bio-security measures imposed."
'Huge blow''Huge blow'
Inside the protection and surveillance zones, bird movements are being restricted and all birds housed or isolated from contact with wild birds.Inside the protection and surveillance zones, bird movements are being restricted and all birds housed or isolated from contact with wild birds.
All poultry keepers on the British poultry register are also being notified about the outbreak and EU officials have been informed. All keepers on the British poultry register are also being notified about the outbreak and EU officials have been informed.
National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said the discovery of bird flu was a "huge blow to the farming industry" in the run-up to the festive season. National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall said it had been a "summer and autumn from hell" for livestock farmers who were "punch drunk" following earlier outbreaks of foot-and-mouth, bluetongue and flooding.
"It is the busiest time of year in preparation for the Christmas rush, and there are a lot of birds because of the increased demand for free-range production that are actually out there in the fields at this time of year.
The farm's directors said they were co-operating with DefraThe farm's directors said they were co-operating with Defra
"So the industry is incredibly nervous and waiting for some definitive results."
The disease was discovered on Sunday by a vet, who noticed that there had been an increasing number of deaths among turkeys in one of the five sheds on the farm.The disease was discovered on Sunday by a vet, who noticed that there had been an increasing number of deaths among turkeys in one of the five sheds on the farm.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said on Monday that the risk of bird flu spreading was increased during the autumn months because of wild bird migration. Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said the risk of bird flu spreading was increased during the autumn months because of wild bird migration.
He added that the affected birds were free-range - meaning they had access to the outdoors and may have been of greater risk of catching the disease. The affected birds were free-range - meaning they had access to the outdoors and may have been of greater risk of catching the disease.
Mr Landeg has urged poultry farmers to remain vigilant and to take bio-security measures to stop the disease spreading.
"Everybody needs to be concerned, this is avian influenza," he said.
"We are asking every poultry keeper to be vigilant, to house their birds where they are required to do so in any restricted area and carry out good bio-security measures and report any signs of disease."
Consumer confidence is a big concern for the poultry industry, and the Food Standards Agency reassured customers that there was no threat to human health so long as eggs and poultry were properly cooked.Consumer confidence is a big concern for the poultry industry, and the Food Standards Agency reassured customers that there was no threat to human health so long as eggs and poultry were properly cooked.
And National Farmers' Union poultry board chairman Charles Bourns insisted that turkey supply over Christmas would not be affected. The NFU insisted that turkey supply over Christmas would not be affected, as the cull accounted for only a small proportion of the 10 million festive turkeys sold each year.
He added that the cull accounted for only a small proportion of the 10 million festive turkeys sold each year.
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Are you in this area? Are you a farmer who is concerned about the latest outbreak? Has your livestock been affected by bird flu? Send us your reactions.
Are you in this area? Are you a farmer who is concerned about the latest outbreak? Has your livestock been affected by bird flu? Send us your reactions.
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