Britain probes bird flu outbreak
Source: CCTV.com | 02-06-2007 10:37
An investigation is underway into how the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus found its way onto a farm in eastern England. Meanwhile, workers have culled thousands of turkeys to prevent the virus from spreading.
Nearly 160,000 birds were being gassed and incinerated after the discovery of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu on a farm in Suffolk. The owner of the farm is Bernard Matthews, Europe's largest turkey producer.
About 2,500 turkeys died in the initial outbreak. Officials say the virus has been confined to the farm.
Ben Bradshaw, Environment Minister, said, "The priority at the moment must be to contain the disease on this site and to eradicate it, to prevent its spread. And we may never know what the cause for this outbreak is but we will certainly investigate that in the next week or two."
Farm workers have been offered anti-viral drugs.
Tight restrictions have been imposed on the way birds are housed and moved.
Within three kilometers of the farm, poultry must be kept indoors. A surveillance zone covers an area of 10 kilometers.
Within the zone, bird fairs are banned and there are restrictions on bird movements.
Bird flu has killed at least 165 people worldwide since 2003. And more than 200 million birds have died or been killed to prevent its spread.
It has not yet fulfilled scientists' worst fears by mutating into a form that could be easily transmitted between humans and cause a global pandemic.
Source: CCTV.com | 02-06-2007 10:37
An investigation is underway into how the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus found its way onto a farm in eastern England. Meanwhile, workers have culled thousands of turkeys to prevent the virus from spreading.
Nearly 160,000 birds were being gassed and incinerated after the discovery of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu on a farm in Suffolk. The owner of the farm is Bernard Matthews, Europe's largest turkey producer.
About 2,500 turkeys died in the initial outbreak. Officials say the virus has been confined to the farm.
Ben Bradshaw, Environment Minister, said, "The priority at the moment must be to contain the disease on this site and to eradicate it, to prevent its spread. And we may never know what the cause for this outbreak is but we will certainly investigate that in the next week or two."
Farm workers have been offered anti-viral drugs.
Tight restrictions have been imposed on the way birds are housed and moved.
Within three kilometers of the farm, poultry must be kept indoors. A surveillance zone covers an area of 10 kilometers.
Within the zone, bird fairs are banned and there are restrictions on bird movements.
Bird flu has killed at least 165 people worldwide since 2003. And more than 200 million birds have died or been killed to prevent its spread.
It has not yet fulfilled scientists' worst fears by mutating into a form that could be easily transmitted between humans and cause a global pandemic.