Avian flu in UK
The BBC reports that an outbreak in British poultry has been confirmed as H5N1 avian flu.
The avian flu which killed 2,600 turkeys at a Suffolk farm has been confirmed as the H5N1 virus.
The 159,000 other turkeys on the farm will now have to be slaughtered.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Commission carried out virus tests at laboratories in Weybridge, Surrey.
A three-kilometre protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone will be set up around Holton, which is approximately 27km south-west of Lowestoft.
As revere says at Effect Measure:
This is the second confirmed appearance of the virus in Europe this year and the second appearance in the UK in the last 12 months (previously chickens in Norfolk in April 2006). Most people expect there to be more instances elsewhere in Europe.
The virus is out there. Gone from the headlines doesn’t mean it’s gone from the world.
February 3rd, 2007