Bird Flu Outbreak At Oxfordshire Farm

Officials have confirmed an outbreak of bird flu at an Oxfordshire farm.

The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) say that chickens have contracted H7 avian influenza on the premises at Banbury.

Tests have confirmed that the strain is "highly pathogenic" which means it spreads rapidly in the bird population with a high mortality rate among birds.

Culling of about 25,000 laying hens began today. A three kilometre protection zone and at ten kilometre outer surveillance zone has been imposed around the farm area.

While the current risk to humans from H7 avian flu is very low, the risk is being taken very seriously.

The Thames Valley Health Protection Unit will ensure that those going to the farm to work on culling and then cleaning operations will have "adequate protective equipment" and will receive pre-exposure treatment with seasonal flu immunisation and antiviral medicine as appropriate.

Director of the Thames Valley Health Protection Unit, Dr Elizabeth Haworth said: "Only about ten people needed post exposure treatment with antiviral medicine and seasonal flu immunisation and they have all now received this.

"We have also set up enhanced surveillance of people exposed to infected poultry, checking daily for any symptoms of illness which may emerge even though the risk to humans remains very low."

Professor Nigel Lightfoot, Head of Influenza Programmes at the Health Protection Agency, said: "Despite this occurrence the current level of risk to humans from avian flu is very low. Most human H7 infections so far have occurred through direct contact with live or dead infected poultry.

"However, any possibility of exposure to the virus is taken very seriously and the local Health Protection Unit is working closely with Defra and Animal Health to ensure that all the necessary steps are being taken to protect those people who may have been exposed to the virus on the premises or are involved in disease control activities."

Avian influenza is a contagious disease of birds caused by viruses that normally only infects wild birds, and, less frequently, other species including domestic poultry.

It is reported that Japan has suspended imports of poultry from the UK.

(DS)