Government ‘prepared’ for bird flu

The government has said that it is “prepared” if avian flu is found amongst poultry in the UK.

The government announced that it had a full contingency plan in place to deal with the disease, as it was confirmed that the virus has been found in Turkey.

The H5NI strain, which has been responsible for more than 60 deaths in Asia, was identified in a poultry sample sent to the UK from Turkey.

The outbreak occurred in an outdoor turkey farm in Balikesir, Antatolia, in early October and killed the majority of the birds. All the remaining birds have now been destroyed and the Turkish authorities have implemented a programme to slaughter all birds in the affected area to limit the spread of the disease.

Bird flu has also been found in the Danube delta area of Romania, although it is not yet known if it is the same strain.

The European Commission has banned imports of poultry and poultry products from both countries as a precautionary step.

However, there is currently no requirement for restrictions on the import of wild birds to the UK, which has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats. Rural affairs spokesperson Baroness Miller said: “We do not want to scaremonger or raise fears, but I am determined to ensure bio-security measures are properly in place.

“The UK Presidency of the EU means that this country should be at the forefront of implementing a complete ban on wild bird imports.”

Defra’s chief vet, Debby Reynolds said that there was a risk of avian flu to the UK and said that Defra was monitoring the situation closely. She said: “We will now carry out an assessment immediately to determine what the risk is and whether any further measures need to be taken. We will work with the EU Commission and other member states. The last time the UK had an outbreak of avian flu was in 1992, when it was successfully brought under control and eradicated.

“The key to tackling the disease is to detect it early and stop it spreading. We have already enhanced our surveillance of wild birds, working with other member states, and we have a full contingency plan in place for tackling any outbreak.”

Ms Reynolds said that any suspicion of the disease should be reported immediately and urged all poultry keepers to strengthen their bio-security measures.

The National Farmers Union stressed that avian flue was primarily a disease of birds and said that poultry and game are safe to eat. The union said that farmers had increased their bio-security measures, by ensuring that enclosures, houses and surrounding areas are kept as clean as possible and that clothes, vehicles and boots are cleaned and disinfected.

European Union health officials have suggested that everyone in EU member states should receive a flu vaccine.

However, Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “Vaccinating people for seasonal flu may offer no protection against bird flu pandemic.

"I have repeatedly stressed the need for urgent contingency preparations, including work on an H5N1 vaccine and the acquisition of a national stockpile of anti-viral drugs.

"Other countries put anti-viral orders in months ahead of us and have more comprehensive plans but the Government remains complacent about the risk".

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that the government was stockpiling anti-viral drugs.

(KMcA/SP)