Voluntary Report - Public distribution

**Date:** 11/13/2007

**GAIN Report Number:** UK7035

UK7035

**United Kingdom**

**Poultry and Products**

**UK confirms highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in free range
turkey flock**

**2007**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Rod McSherry

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Steve Knight

**Report Highlights:**

On Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the UK confirmed highly pathogenic Avian
Influenza (AI) H5N1 in a UK free range turkey flock on the
Norfolk/Suffolk county border, 75 miles from London and in the heart of
the UK's main poultry producing region. According to the UK Government,
initial characterization suggests it is of Asian lineage and closely
related to strains found this Summer in the Czech Republic and in
Germany. As such, it appears to be of a different lineage to the strain
found earlier this year in the UK, also in the county of Suffolk. As a
precautionary measure, the UK has imposed movement restrictions over and
above those required by EU legislation. It has also halted all poultry
and poultry products exports to non-EU countries. A full epidemiological
investigation into the source of the virus and active surveillance to
prevent its spread are both ongoing.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

London \[UK1\]

\[UK\]

On Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the UK Government's Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed highly pathogenic
Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 in a UK free range turkey flock on the
Norfolk/Suffolk county border, 75 miles from London and in the heart of
the UK's main poultry producing region.

Concerns regarding possible disease were first reported to Defra on
Sunday, November 11. The following day, Defra confirmed AI H5 but the
specific strain and lineage were still being determined. In line with EU
requirements, Defra immediately imposed a Protection Zone of three
kilometers radius and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometers radius around
the Infected Premises (IP). No movement of live poultry is permitted
within the zones and all poultry must be isolated from wild birds. Later
the same day, Defra imposed additional restrictions as a precautionary
measure. These include a larger Restricted Zone covering much of Norfolk
and all of Suffolk. All poultry within this additional zone must be
isolated from wild birds, movements within the zone can take place, but
no movements out of the zone are now permitted. The national general
license on bird gatherings in England has also been revoked and bird
shows and pigeon racing are no longer permitted.

Also Monday, the UK Government suspended the issue of all poultry and
poultry product export health certificates to non-EU countries with
immediate effect[^1]. The UK does not have a USDA-approved poultry meat
establishment but does export limited numbers of live chicks and poultry
products, such as feathers, to the U.S.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon[^2] and confirming that
the disease is highly pathogenic H5N1, Acting Chief Veterinary Officer,
Fred Landeg, indicated that initial characterization suggests it is of
Asian lineage and closely related to strains found this Summer in both
the Czech Republic and in Germany. As such, it is of a slightly
different lineage to the UK's February 2007 outbreak, also in the county
of Suffolk, for which the most likely source was suggested to be
Hungary. All poultry on the Infected Premises (IP) - of which there are
approximately 5,000 turkeys, 1,000 ducks and 500 geese - are currently
being slaughtered. Full depopulation is expected to be a slow process
due to the nature of the IP. The epidemiological investigation into the
source of the disease, beyond the known lineage, is ongoing as is active
surveillance to limit any possible spread of the virus and eliminate any
further cases, if found.

The UK Government's Food Standards Agency has been quick to reassure the
public that there is no reason for immediate concern, emphasizing that
avian influenza is a disease of birds and while it can pass very rarely,
and with difficulty, to humans this requires extremely close contact
with infected birds[^3]. This message was reiterated by Fred Landeg at
today's press conference but media reports suggest that all employees at
the IP have been given antiviral drugs as a precautionary measure.

Over the past 10 months, the UK agricultural sector has had to deal with
the impacts of Foot & Mouth Disease in August and September, an ongoing
Bluetongue outbreak and an earlier case of H5N1 in February. The timing
of this latest disease outbreak will be particularly challenging for the
UK poultry sector as this is traditionally the lead up to their busiest
time of year. In February, UK consumers quickly returned to poultry
after a short downturn in demand. What will happen on this occasion
remains to be seen, but much will inevitably focus on how quickly Defra
is able to control and eradicate the virus. Defra is maintaining a
regularly updated website on the outbreak[^4].

**Related reports:**

+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| > *     | **Title**                                  | **Date       |
| *Report |                                            | Released**   |
| > N     |                                            |              |
| umber** |                                            |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7028  | Bluetongue outbreak adds to the UK's Foot  | 10/03/07     |
|         | & Mouth Disease woes                       |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7027  | Latest FMD situation in the UK             | 09/25/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7026  | First ever case of bluetongue confirmed in | 09/24/07     |
|         | the UK                                     |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7024  | Update on UK outbreak of FMD               | 09/18/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7023  | UK Confirms New Case of FMD on Cattle Farm | 09/12/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7020  | Foot & Mouth Disease -- recovery           | 08/21/07     |
|         | timetable, the economic impact and who     |              |
|         | pays                                       |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7019  | UK Foot and Mouth Update 2                 | 08/19/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7018  | UK Foot & Mouth Disease update             | 08/08/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7017  | UK confirms case of FMD on cattle farm     | 08/06/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| E47060  | Livestock and Products Annual              | 07/20/07     |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| GM7030  | [AI update: Total Number Rises to 240 Wild | 07/13/07     |
|         | Birds, One Goose on Backyard               |              |
|         | Farm](http://www.fa                        |              |
|         | s.usda.gov/gainfiles/200707/146291711.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| GM7025  | [AI Re-appears in Wild                     | 06/28/07     |
|         | Birds](http://www.fa                       |              |
|         | s.usda.gov/gainfiles/200706/146291525.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7006  | [UK Investigating Hungary as Possible      | 02/13/07     |
|         | Source of                                  |              |
|         | H5N1](http://in                            |              |
|         | tranetapps/GainFiles/200702/146280187.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7005  | [H5N1 developments in the                  | 02/08/07     |
|         | UK](http://in                              |              |
|         | tranetapps/GainFiles/200702/146280161.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| UK7004  | [H5N1 confirmed in UK turkey               | 02/05/07     |
|         | flock](http://in                           |              |
|         | tranetapps/GainFiles/200702/146280127.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| HU7003  | [Second Case of Avian Influenza Confirmed  | 02/01/07     |
|         | in                                         |              |
|         | Hungary](http://www.fa                     |              |
|         | s.usda.gov/gainfiles/200702/146280078.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+
| HU7002  | [Hungary Announces Suspected Case of Avian | 01/30/07     |
|         | Influenza in Commercial                    |              |
|         | Poultry](http://www.fa                     |              |
|         | s.usda.gov/gainfiles/200701/146280022.pdf) |              |
+---------+--------------------------------------------+--------------+

[^1]: [Defra Customer Information Notice
    GEN/07/359](http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/cins/2007/07359.htm)

[^2]: [Defra Press Conference - Fred Landeg,
    ACVO](http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7090000/newsid_7093000?redirect=7093032.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&asb=1)

[^3]: [FSA Avian Influenza
    FAQ](http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/webpage/birdflu/birdflufaq)

[^4]: [Defra - AI latest
    situation](http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/latest-situation/index.htm)