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By Selena Masson, Shooting Times
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
The virulent H5N1 strain of avian influenza has been confirmed in turkeys on a farm in Suffolk.
The outbreak of bird flu was discovered last Sunday at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss.
A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been set up around the affected site.
Fred Landeg, acting chief vet, said: "We are at a very early stage of the investigation. This is a particularly challenging site and our priority is to adhere to strict bio-security. The initial sequence data suggests that it's closely related to outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Germany, which does suggest a possible wild bird source."
He said: "This will not be a quick exercise. This is a particularly challenging site and our priority is to adhere to strict bio-security, and the health and safety of staff on site is paramount."
The culled birds include 5,000 turkeys, 500 geese and 1,000 ducks. However a total of 24,000 birds on four different premises are being culled as a precaution.
In the 3km protection zone:
Do not shoot unless you have first checked with your local Animal Health Office. In no circumstances should you shoot within 500m of a premises holding commercial poultry.
In the 10km suveillance zone:
Do not shoot within 500m of a premises holding commercial poultry.
Movement of dead game:
Under the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Poultry) (England) Order 2006 Schedule 11 wild game birds shot within the all zones, can be moved between zones but cannot leave the restricted zone unless under licence. Birds shot outside the restricted zone can be brought into the zone for consumption or processing but then cannot leave the restricted zone unless licensed.
Anyone who keeps birds and is not already registered on the Great Britain poultry register is advised to do so - more information on the register can be found on DEFRA's website.
Please report any abnormal behaviour or die-offs of wild birds particularly wildfowl, gulls and starlings to the Defra helpline - 08459 33 55 77.
For more information BASC members can call the BASC avian flu hotline on 01244 573056.
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