Avian influenza has been confirmed in chickens on a farm in Hampshire - although Government officials say it is a low risk case.
The outbreak, which is believed to be on a farm at Upham in the Meon Valley, was confirmed in a statement issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The department said that tests had shown that the strain involved in the outbreak was the low severity H7 type - unlike the more serious H5N8 strain, which was found on a Yorkshire duck farm in November.
DEFRA said that a one-kilometre restriction zone had been put in place around the site, which is a commercial chicken breeding farm. The department said that the affected birds would be culled. It said that this was part of “tried and tested procedures for responding swiftly and thoroughly when an outbreak occurs.” DEFRA said that there was very little risk to human health.
Chief vet Nigel Gibbens said that immediate action had been taken to contain the outbreak. “This is a low severity form of the virus and we are taking action to ensure that the disease does not spread or develop into a more severe form. We are investigating the possible sources of the outbreak.” He urged other poultry keepers in the surrounding area to be vigilant for any signs of disease and to ensure that they were maintaining good biosecurity on their own premises.
Nick Phin, director for Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control said, “Based on what we know about this strain of avian influenza and the actions that have been taken, the risk to human health in this case is considered very low. Public Health England continues to work closely with Defra throughout this investigation.”
Robert Gooch, director of policy with the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association (BFREPA) said, “Defra has confirmed that the case is a low severity H7 strain of the disease and is not linked to the H5N8 strain found at a Yorkshire duck farm in November. The Food Standards Agency has also moved quickly to say that there is no risk to public health from the consumption of British free range eggs.
“Our message to producers is still one of vigilance. Free range egg producers in the surrounding area should observe the movement restrictions imposed by Defra and we urge them to be vigilant for any signs of disease on their farms.”
The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that there is no risk for UK consumers.
