Several Dead Poultry Tested For Bird Flu In Scotland

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 16 Mar 2006 - 16:00 PDT

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A poultry unit in mainland Orkney, Scotland, is being tested for bird flu as a number of chickens have died. Samples have been sent to Weybridge, Kent, UK. So far this year there have been 39 investigations, all of which have tested negative.

The farm has been sealed off.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said "We can confirm a number of birds died on a poultry premises on mainland Orkney. A vet(erinary) officer visited the premises yesterday and took samples for laboratory investigation of suspected avian notifiable disease, which could be a strain of Avian Influenza or Newcastle Disease. Suspect cases are investigated as a matter of routine and 39 similar investigations have been carried out in Great Britain to date."

In an interview with BBC Scotland, Dr. Bob McCracken, recent British Veterinary Association President, said the risk of bird flu, among other possibilities, is real. Orkney is near Scandinavia, where the H5N1 virus has been found. He said that if the poultry was kept indoors it is unlikely they would be infected with bird flu.

Dr. McCracken stressed that birds die from many other illnesses apart from bird flu.

So far, the UK has remained free of the H5N1 Bird Flu virus strain.

Written by:vChristian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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