November 20, 2007

UK confirms second case of H5N1 bird flu in culled birds
 

The UK confirmed on Monday (November 19, 2007) the discovery of the H5N1 strain of bird flu at a second location in Eastern England.

That location had already been confirmed as a dangerous contact and all of the birds had been culled by Saturday, the Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs said.

Because initial clinical inspection of the flock showed it to be healthy, the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said this showed infection was in its early stages.

"The laboratory test results today highlight the importance of poultry keepers in the area being extremely vigilant," said UK Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg.

The case was found among about 9,000 turkeys that had just been culled at the farm on the border of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, Defra said, the Associated Press reported.

As of Sunday, approximately 28,600 birds had been culled, which included the first premise that had been confirmed with the disease, as well as four premises identified as dangerous contacts.

All the farms where the culling was taking place are connected to the Gressingham Foods company, and Defra was investigating whether H5N1 had spread between them, the AP reported.