Swine flu alert at turkey farm in Cheshire

Jan 19 2011 by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle

HEALTH inspectors have found H1N1 influenza in turkeys on a farm in Cheshire.

The strain is similar to the human pandemic H1N1 (swine flu) strain currently circulating.

A spokesman for Defra, who declined to say where exactly in the county the farm is located, said: “The Health Protection Agency has undertaken a thorough public health risk assessment and can confirm there is no risk to public health.

“This finding has resulted from a routine notifiable avian disease investigation relating to a small number of turkeys showing mild signs of disease.

“The birds’ conditions have since improved and results of laboratory tests show that statutory notifiable avian disease – where the government would need to take animal health action – can be ruled out. There is no food safety risk.”

Restrictions were put in place at the farm but have now been lifted.

Pandemic H1N1, in common with avian influenza, has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and cooked poultry meat, products and eggs.

Bird keepers should continue to maintain appropriate biosecurity measures and be vigilant for signs of notifiable avian disease and report any suspicion promptly to the Animal Health agency.