H5 avian influenza found on Suffolk poultry farm

The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed avian influenza in turkeys on premises near Diss on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Preliminary tests were positive for the H5 strain.

Full confirmation of these preliminary results, including whether or not this is H5N1 and whether the strain is high or low pathogenic, will be made available by Defra in due course.

As required under EU legislation, Defra will be culling all poultry on the infected premises and have imposed a 3-kilometre protection zone and a 10-kilometre outer surveillance zone around the farm area. This is to prevent further spread to neighbouring flocks and/or farms.

Despite this incident the current level of risk to humans from H5 avian influenza remains extremely low. Nonetheless, any possibility of exposure is taken very seriously and the Health Protection Agency is working closely with Defra and local NHS partners to ensure that all the necessary actions are being taken to protect those people who may have been exposed to the virus.

These actions include the offering of antiviral drugs and seasonal influenza vaccine where appropriate to people who have been in close contact with the infected poultry.

Concerned local residents can ring the Defra helpline for further information on avian influenza on 08459 33 55 77 between 6.00am - 10.00pm Monday to Friday.

Avian influenza, or “bird flu”, is a contagious disease of birds caused by viruses that normally only infect wild birds and, rarely, other species including domestic poultry. There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

Professor Nigel Lightfoot, Head of Influenza Programmes at the Health Protection Agency, said: “Despite this occurrence the current level of risk to humans from avian flu is extremely low. Most human H5 infections so far have occurred through direct contact with live or dead infected poultry."