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09/02/2007
Possible Hungarian source for Suffolk avian flu
There have been claims that the bird flu, which affected a turkey farm in Suffolk, may have come from Hungary.
According to reports, government vets now believe that the deadly H5N1 virus was spread from other poultry and not from wild birds.
Bernard Matthews, which owned the Suffolk farm where the virus was found, owns a plant in Hungary from where meat products were transferred.
The H5N1 virus was discovered on a goose farm near Szentes in southern Hungary last month. However, Bernard Matthews said that its records showed that the imported meat products were not from the infected zone. The plant is in Sarvar, which is about 160 miles from the infected area.
The company has now suspended further trade between Hungary and the UK as a precaution.
The claims follow statements from both Bernard Matthews and Environment Secretary David Miliband saying that there was no link with an outbreak in an Eastern European country.
The government's chief scientist Sir David King told BBC Breakfast that the H5N1 virus arriving in the UK via dead poultry from Hungary was the "most likely scenario", while Defra's Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said that it now appeared that the virus may be identical to the one discovered in Hungary.
However, Hungarian officials have said that it was unlikely that the virus could have been transferred via processed or frozen meat.
The Food Standards Agency has announced that its is investigating whether meat infected with H5N1 could have entered the food chain. However, they stressed that infeccted meat posed no threat to humans if it was cooked properly.
Nearly 160,000 birds at the farm have been culled following the discovery of the deadly H5N1 virus. A three-kilometre protection zone is in place around the farm, as is a ten-kilometre surveillance zone.
(KMcA)
According to reports, government vets now believe that the deadly H5N1 virus was spread from other poultry and not from wild birds.
Bernard Matthews, which owned the Suffolk farm where the virus was found, owns a plant in Hungary from where meat products were transferred.
The H5N1 virus was discovered on a goose farm near Szentes in southern Hungary last month. However, Bernard Matthews said that its records showed that the imported meat products were not from the infected zone. The plant is in Sarvar, which is about 160 miles from the infected area.
The company has now suspended further trade between Hungary and the UK as a precaution.
The claims follow statements from both Bernard Matthews and Environment Secretary David Miliband saying that there was no link with an outbreak in an Eastern European country.
The government's chief scientist Sir David King told BBC Breakfast that the H5N1 virus arriving in the UK via dead poultry from Hungary was the "most likely scenario", while Defra's Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said that it now appeared that the virus may be identical to the one discovered in Hungary.
However, Hungarian officials have said that it was unlikely that the virus could have been transferred via processed or frozen meat.
The Food Standards Agency has announced that its is investigating whether meat infected with H5N1 could have entered the food chain. However, they stressed that infeccted meat posed no threat to humans if it was cooked properly.
Nearly 160,000 birds at the farm have been culled following the discovery of the deadly H5N1 virus. A three-kilometre protection zone is in place around the farm, as is a ten-kilometre surveillance zone.
(KMcA)
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13 February 2007
Production restarts at Suffolk turkey farm
The Suffolk turkey farm at the centre of a bird flu outbreak is re-opening for business and resuming the slaughter and processing of poultry. The government gave the Bernard Matthews farm in Upper Holton the go-ahead to restart operations and, according to reports, turkeys have already begun to arrive at the plant.
Production restarts at Suffolk turkey farm
The Suffolk turkey farm at the centre of a bird flu outbreak is re-opening for business and resuming the slaughter and processing of poultry. The government gave the Bernard Matthews farm in Upper Holton the go-ahead to restart operations and, according to reports, turkeys have already begun to arrive at the plant.
08 February 2007
Two farm workers test negative for bird flu
Two employees at a Suffolk turkey farm affected by a bird flu outbreak have tested negative for the disease. It is understood that both workers from the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton, near Lowestoft, had reported respiratory problems, but were subsequently found not to have contracted the deadly H5N1 virus.
Two farm workers test negative for bird flu
Two employees at a Suffolk turkey farm affected by a bird flu outbreak have tested negative for the disease. It is understood that both workers from the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton, near Lowestoft, had reported respiratory problems, but were subsequently found not to have contracted the deadly H5N1 virus.
12 February 2007
Bird flu farm exclusion zone 'may have been broken'
The exclusion zone set up around a Bernard Matthews turkey farm may have been broken, according to reports. It has been claimed that cooked poultry products were sent from the farm in Upper Holton in Suffolk to Hungary after the deadly H5N1 virus was discovered there.
Bird flu farm exclusion zone 'may have been broken'
The exclusion zone set up around a Bernard Matthews turkey farm may have been broken, according to reports. It has been claimed that cooked poultry products were sent from the farm in Upper Holton in Suffolk to Hungary after the deadly H5N1 virus was discovered there.
27 April 2006
Chickens culled following bird flu find
Around 35,000 chickens are to be slaughtered at a poultry farm in Norfolk, following the discovery of bird flu among dead chickens. The dead birds were found at the Witford Lodge Farm in Norfolk. It is believed that they were probably infected with the H7 string of the virus, not the deadly H5N1 virus which can be fatal in humans.
Chickens culled following bird flu find
Around 35,000 chickens are to be slaughtered at a poultry farm in Norfolk, following the discovery of bird flu among dead chickens. The dead birds were found at the Witford Lodge Farm in Norfolk. It is believed that they were probably infected with the H7 string of the virus, not the deadly H5N1 virus which can be fatal in humans.
19 February 2007
Bernard Matthews staff face lay-offs
Around 130 workers at a Bernard Matthews site are to be temporarily laid off following the recent bird flu outbreak. The Transport and General Workers Union said that the company had confirmed that the workers at the Norfolk site would be stood down on Tuesday for 20 days.
Bernard Matthews staff face lay-offs
Around 130 workers at a Bernard Matthews site are to be temporarily laid off following the recent bird flu outbreak. The Transport and General Workers Union said that the company had confirmed that the workers at the Norfolk site would be stood down on Tuesday for 20 days.
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