Oral Ministerial Statement by Hilary Benn on Avian Influenza - 13 November 2007
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Statement on Avian Influenza
Mr Speaker, with your permission I would like to make a statement on an outbreak of avian influenza.
Last Sunday Animal Health received a report of a large number of deaths in turkeys on premises near Diss on the Suffolk/Norfolk border. The premises house approximately 5,000 turkeys as well as around 400 geese and over 1,000 ducks. The location was immediately placed under restriction, a veterinary investigation was carried out and samples were sent to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey.
Preliminary results received yesterday afternoon were positive for H5 Avian Influenza. Our contingency plan was immediately put into operation. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone were established around the Infected Premises. No movements of poultry are currently permitted in these zones although we are considering licensing necessary low risk moves. Having acted on suspicion that this was H5N1, I can tell the House that laboratory results earlier today confirmed that the virus strain is indeed highly pathogenic H5N1.
The culling of all birds on the premises, and the following up of any dangerous contacts, will now take place. The health and safety of those involved in the operations are the priority, and a strict approach is being taken. All workers on the premises already potentially exposed to infection have been given Tamiflu and all those who will be going to the infected premises will also be given Tamiflu prior to commencing operations. Due to the nature of these premises, this work may take some time to complete. Culled birds will be transported to a plant in Staffordshire in sealed, leak-proof containers which will be escorted at all times. This is the nearest suitable plant for rendering in these circumstances. It is the same plant we used in the outbreak in February, also in Suffolk, and it is geared up to deal quickly with large numbers of carcases under biosecure conditions.
We have established both a national and a local disease control centre, based in Bury St Edmunds. We have also sent text messages to all bird keepers nationwide, and particularly to those in the zones, who are on our Poultry Register. We will continue to work closely with Animal Health, Local Authorities, and the industry on communications locally and nationally.
In addition, following consultation with ornithologists and other experts, a wider Restricted Zone was established last night. The Restricted Zone covers much of Norfolk and the whole of Suffolk, based on administrative boundaries. The housing of poultry or their isolation from wild birds is required in the zone. Movements within the zone can take place, but are not permitted out of the zone at present. We expect to make available general licences for low risk movements out of the zone shortly.
The European Commission has been informed. The export of poultry to the EU remains permitted under EU law from areas outside of the Restricted Zone. With third countries we have notified all posts around the world and we are withdrawing export health certificates for those third countries which already require complete AI freedom.
In addition, the national general licences permitting bird gatherings in England, Scotland and Wales have been revoked, and no bird shows and pigeon racing will be permitted for the time being. We have taken this measure nationwide as bird gatherings pose an especially high risk of onward spread of disease.
The measure we have taken are precautionary and reflect the uncertainty of the situation. A full epidemiological investigation has started into the source of this outbreak and the risks of further spread, and tracings and surveillance work are underway. As a result of this investigation we expect the culling of any dangerous contacts to take place. We will confirm details as soon as possible as more information becomes available.
It is too early to speculate on the source of the virus, and all possibilities are being investigated. There also remains the chance that there may be further undisclosed disease in this area which has a high density of poultry. As further information becomes available, and in consultation with ornithological and other experts, the restrictions in place may be adjusted.
It is for this reason that the Acting Chief Veterinary Officer, Fred Landeg, has been urging all poultry keepers to practice the highest standards of biosecurity and to be vigilant for signs of disease. It is very important that they act quickly and contact their local animal health office if they suspect anything.
I wish to re-assure the House that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds. It is an animal, rather than a human health problem. The Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency have been fully involved in the action taken so far and their advice is clear. Avian Influenza has so far only been shown to spread between birds and humans through close and prolonged contact with infected birds. It is a difficult disease to catch. Therefore the only current known possible human health consequences are for those working closely with live or dead infected poultry. We have taken a precautionary approach to protect the health of the workers involved.
The Department of Health has made seasonal flu vaccine available to all poultry workers to guard against the risk of the disease mutating by spreading to a person with seasonal flu.
The Food Standards Agency advise that there is no risk in eating any sort of properly-cooked poultry and eggs.
I would finally like to record my thanks to all those who are working so hard on this task, including Animal Health, local authorities, the police, stakeholders and many others, especially given the important work that is continuing on FMD and Bluetongue.
Page published: 13 November 2007