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More culls in bird flu outbreak More culls in bird flu outbreak
(20 minutes later)
About 22,000 birds on four premises are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a Suffolk farm. About 22,000 turkeys on four premises are being culled as a precaution, after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a Suffolk farm.
Government officials said it was not yet known if the birds, all turkeys, had contracted the virus. Officials said it was not yet known if the birds had contracted the virus.
A cull of 6,500 birds is continuing at Redgrave Park farm, near Diss, where the infection was discovered on Sunday. A cull of 6,500 birds is also taking place at Redgrave Park farm, near Diss, where the infection was discovered on Sunday.
The extra culls will be at sites in the region owned by Gressingham Foods, whose subsidiary runs Redgrave Park. Gressingham Foods' subsidiary Redgrave Poultry, which runs all five sites, said they shared the same farm staff.
A 3km (1.9 mile) protection zone and a 10km (6.2 mile) surveillance zone, where movement of birds is restricted and poultry must be isolated from wild birds, has been established around Redgrave Park. A "direct link" had thus been established between them, it said.
A 3km (1.9 mile) protection zone and a 10km (6.2 mile) surveillance zone, where movement of birds is restricted and poultry must be isolated from wild birds, is in place around Redgrave Park.
This is a precautionary measure taken to prevent any potential spread of the disease Fred LandegActing chief vet Profile: Fred LandegThis is a precautionary measure taken to prevent any potential spread of the disease Fred LandegActing chief vet Profile: Fred Landeg
One of the four sites is within the protection zone and the other three lie within the wider restricted zone, covering much of Suffolk and Norfolk, and where movement is very limited. One of the four sites is within the protection zone and the other three lie within the wider restricted zone, covering much of Suffolk and Norfolk.
Redgrave Poultry, which runs Redgrave Park and the four new cull sites, said "a direct link" had been established between the five premises because they shared the same farming staff. The sites are: Stone House Farm in West Harling and Bridge Farm in Pulham, both in Norfolk, and Grove Farm in Botesdale and Hill Meadow in Knetishall, both in Suffolk.
The precautionary culls are being carried out at Stone House Farm in West Harling and Bridge Farm in Pulham, both in Norfolk, and Grove Farm in Botesdale and Hill Meadow in Knetishall, both in Suffolk.
Geoffrey Buchanan, operations director, said: "While naturally saddened to see so many birds culled, we fully agree that the primary concern has to be the containment of the outbreak."Geoffrey Buchanan, operations director, said: "While naturally saddened to see so many birds culled, we fully agree that the primary concern has to be the containment of the outbreak."
Officials had been investigating any "dangerous contact" between the farm and other flocks in the area, either through human, wild bird or poultry movement.Officials had been investigating any "dangerous contact" between the farm and other flocks in the area, either through human, wild bird or poultry movement.
Map of surveillance zoneMap of surveillance zone
Acting chief vet Fred Landeg said: "At this stage we have not confirmed disease on any of these four premises.Acting chief vet Fred Landeg said: "At this stage we have not confirmed disease on any of these four premises.
"This is a precautionary measure taken to prevent any potential spread of the disease.""This is a precautionary measure taken to prevent any potential spread of the disease."
He urged poultry keepers in the area to be "extremely vigilant" for signs of the virus and to practice the "highest levels of bio-security".He urged poultry keepers in the area to be "extremely vigilant" for signs of the virus and to practice the "highest levels of bio-security".
Movements 'tracked'Movements 'tracked'
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there were more than four million registered poultry within the surveillance zone, with a further 25 million within the restricted zone.The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there were more than four million registered poultry within the surveillance zone, with a further 25 million within the restricted zone.
A Defra spokeswoman said animal health officials have been trying to establish who had come on and off the infected premises as well as tracking any poultry movements to and from the site.
BIRD FLU ZONES Protection zone: 3km (1.9 mile) around the affected site. All movement of birds is bannedSurveillance zone: 10km (6.2 mile) around the infected farm. Currently the same rules as the protection zoneRestricted zone: Covers Suffolk and most of Norfolk. Birds cannot leave the area and must be separated from wild birds, such as being kept inside Source: Defra Farmers' worries Quick guide to bird fluBIRD FLU ZONES Protection zone: 3km (1.9 mile) around the affected site. All movement of birds is bannedSurveillance zone: 10km (6.2 mile) around the infected farm. Currently the same rules as the protection zoneRestricted zone: Covers Suffolk and most of Norfolk. Birds cannot leave the area and must be separated from wild birds, such as being kept inside Source: Defra Farmers' worries Quick guide to bird flu
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 in the restricted zones on the poultry register.
Defra confirmed on Tuesday that the virus found in turkeys on Redgrave Park farm was the highly-contagious H5N1 strain.Defra confirmed on Tuesday that the virus found in turkeys on Redgrave Park farm was the highly-contagious H5N1 strain.
The slaughter of 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese at the premises, which began on Tuesday, is continuing. About 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese are being slaughtered at the premises.
Mr Landeg said his department was keeping an "open mind" about how the virus reached the farm, but added that early indications were that is was related to outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Germany - which suggested a wild bird source. Mr Landeg said his department was keeping an "open mind" about how the virus reached the farm.
The affected birds were free-range - meaning they had access to the outdoors and were located near a lake used by a number of wild fowl. However, he said early indications were that it was related to outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Germany - which suggested a wild bird source.
However, Redgrave Poultry said turkeys were prevented from accessing the lake by electrified fencing, empty ground and a farm road. The affected birds were free-range - meaning they had access to the outdoors - and were located near a lake used by a number of wild fowl.
All feed and water is provided indoors in order to discourage wild fowl, the company added. However, Redgrave Poultry said turkeys were prevented from accessing the lake by electrified fencing, empty ground and a farm road, and all feed and water was provided indoors in order to discourage wild fowl.
Christmas turkeysChristmas turkeys
The news of the outbreak is the latest blow to farmers who are already dealing with bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease.The news of the outbreak is the latest blow to farmers who are already dealing with bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease.
But the National Farmers' Union's poultry board chairman, Charles Bourns, said he did not think there was a danger of turkey shortages over the busy Christmas period.But the National Farmers' Union's poultry board chairman, Charles Bourns, said he did not think there was a danger of turkey shortages over the busy Christmas period.
"This is a disease on the one farm, and I don't think it is going to get out and kill five million birds, most of which are indoors and should have no contact with wild birds," he said."This is a disease on the one farm, and I don't think it is going to get out and kill five million birds, most of which are indoors and should have no contact with wild birds," he said.
All the major supermarket chains have insisted turkey supplies are so far unaffected. All the major supermarket chains say turkey supplies are so far unaffected.
There was a H5N1 outbreak at a turkey farm, at Holton in Suffolk, in February.There was a H5N1 outbreak at a turkey farm, at Holton in Suffolk, in February.
Although a report by Defra into that outbreak initially blamed wild birds, it later concluded the most likely source of infection was imported turkey meat from Hungary.Although a report by Defra into that outbreak initially blamed wild birds, it later concluded the most likely source of infection was imported turkey meat from Hungary.
Redgrave Poultry said none of its birds were imported. Redgrave Poultry said none of its birds was imported.
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Are you in this area? Are you a farmer who is concerned about the latest outbreak? Has your poultry 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 poultry been affected by bird flu? Send us your reactions.
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