November 15, 2007
 
UK authorities suspect imported ducklings as bird flu source

Day-old ducklings imported from the Netherlands are suspected of having brought the H5N1 bird flu virus into the UK, a major newspaper in the country reported.

According to the Times Online, Gressingham Foods, the farm where the latest bird flu outbreak occurred, received regular supplies of ducklings delivered by a Dutch exporter.

Authorities are questioning the driver of the imported duckings and searching for signs of the virus on the vehicle.

Investigators are also checking the farm's vehicles, equipment and staff, for the virus.

Although ducks in Suffolk, where the outbreak occurred, have shown no symptoms of disease, ducks are known to be carriers without symptoms. Blood samples are being taken to see if they could have transmitted the virus to turkeys.

Imports by Gressingham Foods are also part of the official inquiry. The meat is frequently processed or packed at the company's plant near  Redgrave Park Farm, near Diss, which is at the centre of the alert.

An audit trail is also being conducted to see whether any imported meat came from European farms near recent outbreaks of bird flu.

A cull of 5,000 turkeys, 1,200 ducks and 500 geese is still under way at Redgrave Park Farm and a further 22,000 turkeys on four other farms in the area would be culled.