H5N1 bird flu confirmed at Bernard Mathews February 3, 2007
Posted by Andy Roberts in : Bird Flu, UK , trackbackI blogged the news this morning about the bird flu in Suffolk but now the story has become altogether much more serious.
The Guardian reports that the results of further tests are out and it has been comfirmed that the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found among turkeys in a Bernard Matthews poultry farm in Suffolk.
Bernard Mathews is Europe’s largest turkey factory.
All 159,000 turkeys on the affected poultry farm will be slaughtered as a precaution and they are hopeful the outbreak will be contained.
The news release from DEFRA is also online now:
Tests from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) have confirmed that the sample from the poultry found dead on a farm near Lowestoft in Suffolk did contain the H5N1 avian flu virus. Further tests are underway to determine whether the strain of the virus is similar to that found in Asia. Results are expected later today.
Fred Landeg, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer said:
“I urge keepers of birds to be vigilant, to take care if handling birds which appear to be unwell and to observe high levels of biosecurity. Owners that suspect disease, should act quickly consult their vet. Avian influenza is a notifiable disease and must be reported to the local Divisional Veterinary Manager in the State Veterinary Service”
There is no reason for public health concern. Avian Influenza is a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with difficulty, to humans this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly faeces
To find out more about H5N1 and avian influenza, there is the bird flu wiki and also the Avian Flu Watch group on Flickr.
For a wryly written but perceptive piece there’s also Bird flu: we’re all going to die at The Register.
is an online professional who initiated DARnet 
A well written and informative blog, For those who are interested, following are some informative sites for more info:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
http://www.pandemicflu.gov
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?navtype=SU&navid=AVIAN_INFLUENZA
http://www.pandemicinfosite.com
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
I’ve been trying to find out what will happen with all the dead (160,000!) turkeys. A sudden flood of the market of turkey twizzlers??
http://tinyurl.com/25qs9a
“Up to 160,000 birds were to be gassed at the farm, before being transported in sealed lorries for incineration. “