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 30 August 2008 16:42 BST

Bird flu confirmed in Wales

Thursday, 24 May 2007 16:47
Britain's last bird flu scare centred on a turkey farm in Suffolk

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A case of bird flu has been confirmed in north Wales, but scientists have said it is not the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain.

The chief veterinary officer for Wales, Dr Christianne Glossop, confirmed this afternoon that an earlier alert at a farm in north Wales had resulted in the low pathogenic H7N2 strain of avian influenza being found.

Contingency plans have been activated despite the fact that the incident does not involve form of bird flu which has killed humans in south-east Asia and led to fears of a global pandemic.

The farm itself, understood to be at a country estate in Conwy county, has been placed under restrictions and a 1km restriction zone has been set up around it.

Birds and bird products within the zone cannot be moved, bird gatherings can only take place under licence and poultry keepers have been urged to observe "strict biosecurity measures".

Thirty other birds on the infected site are also to be slaughtered to prevent further spread of the disease.

"We would like to remind poultry keepers to report any suspicious signs of a notifiable avian disease to their local Animal Health divisional office," the Welsh Assembly said in a statement.

Experts were keen to emphasise that cases of humans working on infected farms falling ill was "very rare" and that the risk to the population at large was "very low".

"Routine tests are being carried out on people who work on the farm and anybody else who has been in close contact," the statement added.

"The small number of people who have potentially come into contact is very low. There are no ongoing risks to the public but if people have concerns NHS Direct is always available for general health advice." End of story


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