DEFRA have today issued their initial epidemiological report into the avian influenza outbreak at Redgrave in North Suffolk.

It reports that the disease found at Redgrave is genetically 99.8% identical to that found in a mute swan in the Czech Republic during July of this year; these genetic results suggest that wild birds may have introduced the virus into Suffolk from Europe. It also points out that poultry processing, by-products, transport and imports are all highly unlikely routes of infection in this case.

Control zones are still in place across Norfolk and Suffolk and poultry farmers in these areas have housed their flocks and their movements are under license.

Speaking today, Peter Bradnock, BPC Chief Executive said: “DEFRA have recognized the speed with which this outbreak was notified to Animal Health by Gressingham Foods and how useful that was in efficient containment and eradication; the poultry sector also recognizes the hard work put in by government officials and the partnership approach we have further developed during this outbreak“.

“The report highlights two areas, foremost how we handle the risk of infection to free range and organic poultry flocks“, said Mr. Bradnock, “We will be sitting down with the government and looking at further guidance on bio-security for outdoor flocks; this will be essential as consumers and retailers show an increasing preference for free range poultry meat“.

Mr. Bradnock concluded: “This was an incident involving small, free range flocks in one distinct section of a poultry company. They, and the wider poultry sector, will be looking at the lessons here in terms of movements between farms and the location of free range flocks. There may be planning implications which will have to be over come in relation to the poultry sector’s ability to relocate some farms”.

-ENDS-

Notes-to-Editors:

1.       The British Poultry Council is the leading representative organization for farmers and companies engaged in breeding, hatching, rearing and processing chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese to produce poultry meat.

2.       BPC Chairman Ted Wright is meeting later today with DEFRA Junior Minister, Jonathan Shaw MP, to discuss many of the issues raised by this outbreak.

BPC 29 November 2007