Experts search for source of bird flu

Scientists are attempting to find the source of an outbreak of bird flu at a turkey farm in Suffolk.

Nearly 160,000 turkeys are being slaughtered at the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton, near Lowestoft, following the discovery of the deadly H5N1 virus. The dead birds are being transported in sealed lorries to Cheddleton in Staffordshire, where they will be incinerated.

A three kilometre protection zone is in place around the farm and all poultry in the area have to remain indoors and be tested for the virus. A ten kilometre surveillance zone is also in place, with no movement of poultry allowed unless they are being moved for slaughter.

Since January 2003, 164 people have died from H5N1, mainly in southeast Asia. All those who became infected had come into close contact with infected birds. However, there have been fears that the virus could mutate into a form which passes easily between humans, creating a pandemic.

It is understood that 100 of the 2,000 employees of the farm have been given the Tamiflu anti-viral drug.

According to reports, the virus was found in only one shed out of the 22 at the farm.

Both Bernard Matthews and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that none of the infected birds had entered the food chain and that there was no risk to the public, because the virus cannot be transmitted through food.

However, there have been reports that Japan and Russia have temporarily suspended all imports of UK poultry.

Cobra, the government's emergency contingencies committee, is met on Monday in order to discuss the outbreak.

Environment Secretary David Miliband told the Commons on Monday afternoon that the Food Standards Agency said that there was no risk to the public from eating poultry or eggs.

(KMcA)