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milkmaid
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 6979
Location: isle of lewis
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 Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject: H5 POSITIVE turkeys in suffolk! |
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Mystery illness kills 1,000 birds
Government vets are investigating an outbreak of an illness which has killed 1,000 turkeys on a farm in Suffolk.
The birds are being tested for a number of diseases, including Avian Flu.
But officials have stressed it is would be premature to say they are investigating a suspected case of bird flu.
Vets from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) say the results of preliminary tests should be known on Friday night.
last year roughly the same thing happened in shetland
the tests came back negitive |
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debcat
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 8466
Location: Isle of Lewis
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thelongwayround
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Camborne, Cornwall
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| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| That would be it, my partner would have my eggs out of the incubator like a shot. (mental note......block BBC News on her laptop) |
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milkmaid
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 6979
Location: isle of lewis
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stephen
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 4970
Location: Billinge, Skåne, Sweden.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:24 am Post subject: |
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Further update in the last few minutes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/6326681.stm | Quote: | The birds from the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton have tested positive for H5. Further tests are under way to find out if it is the deadly H5N1 strain.
...
Defra said there were 160,000 other turkeys on the farm. If H5N1 is confirmed they would be slaughtered. A three kilometre protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone would also be set up.
The farm has so far been placed under tight restrictions and samples from the dead birds are being examined at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey.
Defra said the alarm was raised by the farmer after he noticed "significant mortality" among his flock.
The first deaths happened on Tuesday 30 January when 71 chicks died, said Defra.
A further 186 died the following day and 860 died on 1 February. Some 1,500 died on Thursday, making a total of 2,617. |
Defra have put out absolutely pathetically minimal information
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-0202.htm
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The State Veterinary Service has today been investigating a case of suspected avian notifiable disease on a poultry farm near Lowestoft in Suffolk. Preliminary tests have this evening indicated that the avian influenza virus is present in samples from poultry found dead on the premises.
These preliminary results show that it is the H5 strain of the virus but further confirmatory tests are in progress to identify the strain more fully, and more will be known tomorrow. The affected premises were put under restriction on Thursday (1st February) evening and the appropriate contingency plan has been put into effect.
When the additional laboratory results are known further action will be taken and all available information will be provided. |
Due to the significance of the results so far, I've made the thread an announcement. |
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stephen
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 4970
Location: Billinge, Skåne, Sweden.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:54 am Post subject: The Guardian |
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From The Guardian
| Quote: | Dr Robert McCracken, former president of the British Veterinary Association and a specialist in bird diseases, said that mortality rates among turkeys with viruses were usually very high. "They are highly susceptible to infection, there could be an avian flu infection in ducks and we would not always notice it because the mortality rate is so low. In some infections in which 50% of chickens might die, we could still expect 100% mortality among turkeys."
He said that if the birds had been allowed outside, wild migratory birds could have been the source. "If these birds were kept indoors it would be very disappointing."
Daniel Parkes, of the British Poultry Veterinary Association, said: "The fact that it is H5 means that it is the highly pathogenic avian influenza, but it does not necessarily mean that it is H5N1. First and foremost we need to stress that it has been identified on a farm and they will try and contain it on that farm." |
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nigel
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 2339
Location: Skåne, Sweden
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:02 am Post subject: |
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probably a good time to repost the link to DEFRA's
Biosecurity and preventing disease
Peace of mind, a healthier flock and a more viable business |
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Lisa
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 3236
Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:55 am Post subject: |
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Fingers crossed...  |
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Fenn
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 2292
Location: Shrewsbury
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:59 am Post subject: |
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THe online newslines are headlining it 'Bird Flu Found in Suffolk'
Then in smaller print - 'deadly strain not confirmed'
How To Panic The Public, pt 1...  |
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debcat
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 8466
Location: Isle of Lewis
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| The EU have just confirmed its H5N1 |
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Henwife
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 3024
Location: Monmouthshire
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| This particular bit of the public decided it was the final fling of our prime minister to deflect the media from his mess. Infuriatingly, it will probably succeed. Just when poultry sales get going again. |
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nigel
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 2339
Location: Skåne, Sweden
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Terrible news, the very worst. I know there's no chance of it infecting people, but who's got birds in Suffolk and likely to be affected by this? |
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thelongwayround
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Camborne, Cornwall
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Luckily, I am down in Cornwall, and as per usual, my timing is impeccable!
Just decided to start hatching and keeping birds!
Hope this is an isolated incident and thinking of all who breed and keep within that area.
Good luck folks. |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 15003
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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Hopefully, as we've been expecting this to happen, we're suitably set-up to deal with it with minimum fuss. 
But the media will have a field-day! 
Good luck to everyone in that area. Fingers crossed this will be the only outbreak. |
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Henwife
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 3024
Location: Monmouthshire
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Unless I mis-read it, the defra site tells me that sales, shows & pigeon racing are all halted. Somebody please tell me I'm wrong. |
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