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Bird flu outbreak at Suffolk farm
donderdag 26 februari 2009 | 13:31
AN investigation is underway at two poultry farms in Suffolk and Norfolk following an outbreak of bird flu.
Vets from Defra carried out the tests at Bernard Matthews breeder sites in Ubbeston, near Halesworth, and near Yaxham, close to Dereham.
The birds tested positive for avian influenza but not the highly pathogenic H5 or H7 types.
Although no birds have been culled there has been a restriction placed on their movement.
A spokeswoman for Defra said: ?A routine veterinary investigation is ongoing at poultry premises into the possible presence of a notifiable avian disease. Laboratory tests are ongoing and there is no conclusion yet.
?Routine veterinary investigations into notifiable diseases occur on a regular basis.
?It is a legal requirement to notify the Animal Health Agency of the possibility of such diseases whenever these cannot be ruled out by a vet or an animal keeper as part of the diagnosis of illness in animals or birds.?
A second series of tests is taking place to identify the strain of influenza.
?Restrictions remain in place on the premises while the investigation continues,? the spokeswoman added. ?No further precautionary restrictions are considered necessary in the area at present, based on information to date.
?We would urge poultry keepers, especially those in the East Anglia area, to heighten their vigilance for disease amongst their birds.
?This reinforces the need to continue to promptly report suspected cases, and implement and maintain appropriate levels of bio-security at all times.?
As a precautionary measure staff at the sites are being given Tamiflu treatment.
Vets were called in to the company after an unusual drop in egg production levels, a spokesman for Bernard Matthews said.
donderdag 26 februari 2009 | 13:31
AN investigation is underway at two poultry farms in Suffolk and Norfolk following an outbreak of bird flu.
Vets from Defra carried out the tests at Bernard Matthews breeder sites in Ubbeston, near Halesworth, and near Yaxham, close to Dereham.
The birds tested positive for avian influenza but not the highly pathogenic H5 or H7 types.
Although no birds have been culled there has been a restriction placed on their movement.
A spokeswoman for Defra said: ?A routine veterinary investigation is ongoing at poultry premises into the possible presence of a notifiable avian disease. Laboratory tests are ongoing and there is no conclusion yet.
?Routine veterinary investigations into notifiable diseases occur on a regular basis.
?It is a legal requirement to notify the Animal Health Agency of the possibility of such diseases whenever these cannot be ruled out by a vet or an animal keeper as part of the diagnosis of illness in animals or birds.?
A second series of tests is taking place to identify the strain of influenza.
?Restrictions remain in place on the premises while the investigation continues,? the spokeswoman added. ?No further precautionary restrictions are considered necessary in the area at present, based on information to date.
?We would urge poultry keepers, especially those in the East Anglia area, to heighten their vigilance for disease amongst their birds.
?This reinforces the need to continue to promptly report suspected cases, and implement and maintain appropriate levels of bio-security at all times.?
As a precautionary measure staff at the sites are being given Tamiflu treatment.
Vets were called in to the company after an unusual drop in egg production levels, a spokesman for Bernard Matthews said.
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