Test Results Positive For Avian Influenza In Two More Poultry Farms In Norfolk, Defra, England

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 01 May 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Tests have provided positive results for avian influenza in chickens on two further poultry farms near Dereham, Norfolk. The preliminary results indicate H7N3, but further tests are being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

The two free range flocks will be slaughtered on suspicion of an avian notifiable disease. A restricted zone has been put in place extending 1km from each of the infected premises. The State Veterinary Service is tracing movements and contacts, the necessary surveillance and all appropriate worker protection measures have been put in place.

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer said:

"We still can not say whether either of these two further farms are the index case, further premises may be involved. We are investigating whether there any links or movements between the two suspect farms and the confirmed infected premises. The working hypothesis remains that the most likely source of the virus is from another premises or from wild birds."

1. The zone restricts the movement of poultry, poultry products and eggs, additional biosecurity measures must be taken and gatherings can only take place under licence from the State Veterinary Service.

2. Poultry keepers within the zone will not be asked to house their birds, however good biosecurity measures are encouraged.

3. All avian influenzas (H1 to H16) can be low pathogenic but only H5 and H7 have been shown to have the potential to become highly pathogenic.

4. Low pathogenic H7N3 has been reported recently in the U.S.A., Canada and Italy. The virus that hit the Dutch poultry industry in 2003 was highly pathogenic H7N7. It last occurred in the UK in 1979.

5. More recently our regular surveillance of the domestic poultry population to date has resulted in no positive findings for H7 avian influenza. There have been no findings of H7N3 in the UK as part of the wild bird surveillance programme, 157 samples have been taken as part of the programme in Norfolk.

6. H7 does not transmit easily from human to human. In almost all cases of human H7 infection to date, the virus, in both low and high pathogenic forms, has only caused a mild disease. Therefore at this stage this is a virus which only has extremely limited implications for human health.

7. The Food Standards Agency advises that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. The risk of people getting avian influenza from eating poultry meat and eggs is low. Further information is available on the Food Standards Agency website.

8. Guidance on handling and disposing of dead garden and wild birds:

The advice given here applies in all circumstances where members of the public may come across a dead bird.

If you find a dead swan, goose or duck or three or more dead wild, or garden birds together in the same place, please report this to Defra, via the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77.

They may wish to have the birds examined for signs of specific diseases. They will advise you on what action you should take.

If the dead bird is a single, small garden, or wild bird then you do not need to call Defra.

You should:

-- leave it alone, or
-- follow the guidelines below for disposal

People should follow some simple hygiene precautions to minimise the risk of infection. It is hard for people to catch avian influenza from birds and the following simple steps are also effective against avian influenza.

If you have to move a dead bird

1. Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands.

2. If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling (if disposable gloves are not available see point 7).

3. Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag.

4. Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag.

5. Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of in the normal household refuse bin.

6. Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

7. If disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead bird has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste.

8. Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag.

9. Any clothing that has been in contact with the dead bird should be washed using ordinary washing detergent at the temperature normally used for washing the clothing.

10. Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner.

See the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Pages in the Defra Web Site

http://www.defra.gov.uk

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