The viral disease avian influenza is confirmed on a poultry farm in Suffolk, the first detection of the bird flu in Britain.
Vets were called to the Suffolk farm last week and today laboratory tests confirmed what had been feared. Around 2,500 turkeys had been infected with the virus and a further 160,000 turkeys will now be culled.
This is the first incidence of bird deaths from the H5N1 virus on a commercial farm in Britain.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landbeg is confident that the disease can be contained. Tests are now being carried out to ascertain if it is the type of H5N1 virus which has killed over 160 people worldwide, mainly in south east Asia.
The most likely explanation is that the virus was carried onto the farm by wild birds. As a result of the outbreak, all movement of poultry in the area has been banned. There is now a three kilometre protection zone around the farm and outside that there is a 10 kilometre surveillance area.
Maria Zambon of the Health Protection Agency says that it is difficult for bird flu to transmit to humans and says that there is no confirmation worldwide of transmission of bird flu through the consumption of food.
Human disease occurs as a consequence of direct contact with poultry that is in some way handling birds or carcases.
Poultry farmers fear that a crisis of public confidence could potentially destroy their industry.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 February 2007. The reporter is Joe O'Brien.
