24/05/2007

Bird flu confirmed on Welsh farm

A case of bird flu has been found on a farm in north Wales, scientists have confirmed.

However, the case has been confirmed as the H7N2 strain and not the more virulent H5N1 strain.

The disease was found in a farm in Conwy. Dr Christianne Glossop, Wales' chief vet, said that the owners of the farm had bought fifteen Rhode Island chickens two weeks ago, but all of them have now died.

Dr Glossop stressed that the strain of bird flu was a low pathogenic strain and should not cause serious illness in humans.

However, she said that the country's contingency plan had been implemented and a 1km restriction zone had been placed around the affected farm.

In February, the more deadly H5N1 virus was found in a Bernard Matthews turkey farm in Suffolk.

Nearly 160,000 turkeys were killed as a precautionary measure.

(KMcA/SP)

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