Menu
12/02/2007
Bird flu farm exclusion zone 'may have been broken'
The exclusion zone set up around a Bernard Matthews turkey farm may have been broken, according to reports.
It has been claimed that cooked poultry products were sent from the farm in Upper Holton in Suffolk to Hungary after the deadly H5N1 virus was discovered there.
The government said that the European Union allowed cooked poultry products to be exported from an exclusion zone.
Defra said that the virus is quickly destroyed by heat and that cooked meat would therefore by safe.
The Holton farm was shut down as soon as the H5N1 virus was discovered and nearly 160,000 birds were culled. However, it has been reported that business continued at a processing plant at the site.
At the end of last week, Bernard Matthews announced that they had now suspended further trade between Hungary and the UK as a precaution.
Last week, it was announced that the virus affecting the Suffolk farm may have originated in Hungary.
The H5N1 virus was discovered on a goose farm near Szentes in southern Hungary last month. However, Bernard Matthews said that its record showed that the imported meat products were not from the infected zone. The plant is in Sarvar, which is about 160 miles from the infected area.
Commenting on the reports, Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said: "If true, the revelation that Defra allowed continued imports of poultry meat from Hungary after the notification of bird flu at the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk is extraordinary and suggestive that one part of the department does not know what other parts are doing.
"David Miliband urgently must come to the House of Commons to explain his department's efforts in stopping the spread of bird flu and protecting human health from what would be a devastating mutation into a virus contagious between humans."
(KMcA)
It has been claimed that cooked poultry products were sent from the farm in Upper Holton in Suffolk to Hungary after the deadly H5N1 virus was discovered there.
The government said that the European Union allowed cooked poultry products to be exported from an exclusion zone.
Defra said that the virus is quickly destroyed by heat and that cooked meat would therefore by safe.
The Holton farm was shut down as soon as the H5N1 virus was discovered and nearly 160,000 birds were culled. However, it has been reported that business continued at a processing plant at the site.
At the end of last week, Bernard Matthews announced that they had now suspended further trade between Hungary and the UK as a precaution.
Last week, it was announced that the virus affecting the Suffolk farm may have originated in Hungary.
The H5N1 virus was discovered on a goose farm near Szentes in southern Hungary last month. However, Bernard Matthews said that its record showed that the imported meat products were not from the infected zone. The plant is in Sarvar, which is about 160 miles from the infected area.
Commenting on the reports, Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said: "If true, the revelation that Defra allowed continued imports of poultry meat from Hungary after the notification of bird flu at the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk is extraordinary and suggestive that one part of the department does not know what other parts are doing.
"David Miliband urgently must come to the House of Commons to explain his department's efforts in stopping the spread of bird flu and protecting human health from what would be a devastating mutation into a virus contagious between humans."
(KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
13 February 2007
Production restarts at Suffolk turkey farm
The Suffolk turkey farm at the centre of a bird flu outbreak is re-opening for business and resuming the slaughter and processing of poultry. The government gave the Bernard Matthews farm in Upper Holton the go-ahead to restart operations and, according to reports, turkeys have already begun to arrive at the plant.
Production restarts at Suffolk turkey farm
The Suffolk turkey farm at the centre of a bird flu outbreak is re-opening for business and resuming the slaughter and processing of poultry. The government gave the Bernard Matthews farm in Upper Holton the go-ahead to restart operations and, according to reports, turkeys have already begun to arrive at the plant.
09 February 2007
Possible Hungarian source for Suffolk avian flu
There have been claims that the bird flu, which affected a turkey farm in Suffolk, may have come from Hungary. According to reports, government vets now believe that the deadly H5N1 virus was spread from other poultry and not from wild birds.
Possible Hungarian source for Suffolk avian flu
There have been claims that the bird flu, which affected a turkey farm in Suffolk, may have come from Hungary. According to reports, government vets now believe that the deadly H5N1 virus was spread from other poultry and not from wild birds.
19 February 2007
Bernard Matthews staff face lay-offs
Around 130 workers at a Bernard Matthews site are to be temporarily laid off following the recent bird flu outbreak. The Transport and General Workers Union said that the company had confirmed that the workers at the Norfolk site would be stood down on Tuesday for 20 days.
Bernard Matthews staff face lay-offs
Around 130 workers at a Bernard Matthews site are to be temporarily laid off following the recent bird flu outbreak. The Transport and General Workers Union said that the company had confirmed that the workers at the Norfolk site would be stood down on Tuesday for 20 days.
08 February 2007
Two farm workers test negative for bird flu
Two employees at a Suffolk turkey farm affected by a bird flu outbreak have tested negative for the disease. It is understood that both workers from the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton, near Lowestoft, had reported respiratory problems, but were subsequently found not to have contracted the deadly H5N1 virus.
Two farm workers test negative for bird flu
Two employees at a Suffolk turkey farm affected by a bird flu outbreak have tested negative for the disease. It is understood that both workers from the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton, near Lowestoft, had reported respiratory problems, but were subsequently found not to have contracted the deadly H5N1 virus.
31 May 2004
Contingency plan for deadly mosquito-borne virus published
A contingency plan to protect the UK against the mosquito-borne disease West Nile Virus has been published by the Chief Medical Officer today. Although the risk of acquiring West Nile Virus infection in the UK has been assessed as low, climate change and long-haul travel could contrive to see the disease spread to Britain.
Contingency plan for deadly mosquito-borne virus published
A contingency plan to protect the UK against the mosquito-borne disease West Nile Virus has been published by the Chief Medical Officer today. Although the risk of acquiring West Nile Virus infection in the UK has been assessed as low, climate change and long-haul travel could contrive to see the disease spread to Britain.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
