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| Cull continues at bird flu farm | Cull continues at bird flu farm |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The culling of 6,500 birds is due to continue at a Suffolk farm where the highly-contagious H5N1 virus was found, according to government vets. | The culling of 6,500 birds is due to continue at a Suffolk farm where the highly-contagious H5N1 virus was found, according to government vets. |
| The infection was discovered on Sunday at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss. | The infection was discovered on Sunday at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss. |
| A 3km (1.9-mile) protection zone and a 10km (6.2-mile) surveillance zone have been set up around the affected site. | |
| Fred Landeg, acting chief vet, said there would be no hesitation in culling poultry on other premises which were suspected of being at risk. | Fred Landeg, acting chief vet, said there would be no hesitation in culling poultry on other premises which were suspected of being at risk. |
| class="bodl" href="#map">Map of surveillance zone | |
| He said officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) were keeping an "open mind" about how the virus reached the farm. | |
| Mr Landeg said: "We are at a very early stage of the investigation. | |
| This is a particularly challenging site and our priority is to adhere to strict bio-security Fred LandegActing chief vet class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4947454.stm">Quick guide to bird flu | |
| "The initial sequence data suggests that it's closely related to outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Germany, which does suggest a possible wild bird source." | "The initial sequence data suggests that it's closely related to outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Germany, which does suggest a possible wild bird source." |
| Mr Landeg also said there was a lake at the affected site with a number of wild fowl on it. | Mr Landeg also said there was a lake at the affected site with a number of wild fowl on it. |
| He added: "No two outbreaks of the disease are ever the same". | |
| He said: "This will not be a quick exercise. This is a particularly challenging site and our priority is to adhere to strict bio-security, and the health and safety of staff on site is paramount." | He said: "This will not be a quick exercise. This is a particularly challenging site and our priority is to adhere to strict bio-security, and the health and safety of staff on site is paramount." |
| The affected birds were free-range - meaning they had access to the outdoors and may have been at greater risk of catching the disease. | The affected birds were free-range - meaning they had access to the outdoors and may have been at greater risk of catching the disease. |
| Mr Landeg has urged people with poultry to be vigilant for bird flu | |
| The birds destined for slaughter include 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese. | The birds destined for slaughter include 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese. |
| 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. |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that there might be further undisclosed cases of the disease in the area but that efforts were being made to contain it. | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that there might be further undisclosed cases of the disease in the area but that efforts were being made to contain it. |
| A national and a local disease control centre have been established in Bury St Edmunds, with text messages sent to all bird keepers nationwide - especially those in zones on the poultry register. | A national and a local disease control centre have been established in Bury St Edmunds, with text messages sent to all bird keepers nationwide - especially those in zones on the poultry register. |
| Mr Benn said that movements within the restricted zones can take place, but not outside the zone. General licences for low risk movements out of the zone are expected to be available "shortly". | Mr Benn said that movements within the restricted zones can take place, but not outside the zone. General licences for low risk movements out of the zone are expected to be available "shortly". |
| 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 Farm isolated as H5N1 found | 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 Farm isolated as H5N1 found |
| The BBC's Andrew Sinclair, at the farm in Suffolk, said large trucks and gas canisters had been moved on to the premises earlier in preparation for the cull. | The BBC's Andrew Sinclair, at the farm in Suffolk, said large trucks and gas canisters had been moved on to the premises earlier in preparation for the cull. |
| Redgrave Poultry Limited, which is operating the farm, has issued a statement in which it said it had continued to fully co-operate with Defra over the outbreak. | Redgrave Poultry Limited, which is operating the farm, has issued a statement in which it said it had continued to fully co-operate with Defra over the outbreak. |
| It also said the farm was seasonal and prepared birds for Christmas. | It also said the farm was seasonal and prepared birds for Christmas. |
| There was a H5N1 outbreak at a turkey farm, at Holton in Suffolk, in February. | |
| Return to top | Return to top |
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. |