Bird flu alert forces authorities to clarify Christmas turkey risk
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All 27,000 birds at the commercial chicken farm will be culled after a number were found to have the H5 strain of avian flu, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said on Tuesday.
The strain has been identified as "low pathogenic avian flu".
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Hide AdPublic Health England has said the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said food safety is not at risk.
BPC chief executive Richard Griffiths said: "The health of our birds remains the priority for BPC member businesses up and down the country.
"I would like to urge all commercial and non-commercial producers to maintain effective biosecurity on their premises, remain alert for any signs and report suspected disease immediately."
A BPC spokeswoman added: "There is no link whatsoever to the Christmas turkey market. It is unaffected by this case.
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Hide Ad"This is a specific farm in Suffolk and the birds are being culled."
A one-kilometre exclusion zone has been set up around the farm to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: "Bird keepers should remain alert for any signs of disease, report suspected disease immediately and ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.
"We are urgently looking for any evidence of disease spread associated with this strain to control and eliminate it."
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Hide AdDr Gavin Dabrera, public health consultant at Public Health England, added: "Avian flu (often called bird flu) is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low.
"As a precaution, we are offering public health advice and antivirals to those who had contact with the affected birds, as is standard practice."
A detailed investigation is under way to determine the most likely source of the outbreak.