February 14, 2007

UK bird flu virus essentially identical to Hungary case

The strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus discovered in the UK is essentially identical to that found in Hungary, government scientists said Tuesday (Feb 13).

Deputy Chief Veterinarian Fred Landeg said the investigation into how the virus arrived at a turkey farm in rural Suffolk continues, but has found no evidence of "illegal or unsafe movements of poultry products from Hungary to (the UK)".

"These results indicate that the viruses are essentially identical," a government statement said.

The outbreak was discovered at a farm in Holton, about 210 kilometres north-east of London, owned by Bernard Matthews PLC, Europe's biggest turkey producer.

The Hungarian H5N1 strain was found in geese and was the first known case within the 27-nation European Union since August last year.