英國動物健康局官員已於13日確認,在Norfolk與Suffolk邊界上鄰近迪斯(Diss)一農場所飼養的火雞體內,檢驗出H5N1型之禽流感菌。此農場畜養約5000隻火雞、400隻鵝與1000隻鴨子,基本上都將被撲殺。
這已是英國本年度以來第二次於國內發現此種致命的H5N1型禽流感病毒。H5N1已造成12國共206人喪命,因感染病毒死亡或為防止疫情擴散而撲殺的鳥類數量高達數億。
獸醫處代理處長藍德格(Fred Landeg)表示,目前正針對病毒作進一步的化驗,也許可找出病毒的來源;任何與其相關具有危險性的接觸,也已進入流行病學檢驗與追蹤的程序,此外,所有可能致使禽流感爆發的根源也將進行調查。
藍德格進一步表示,「我們正敦促所有蓄養家禽者於英國家禽協會(Great Britain Poultry)進行登記,以了解目前發展情勢。我必須強調當地所有畜養家禽者保持高度警覺的重要性,如有任何可疑病例,他們必須立即通報當地動物健康機構,並進入到生物安全之高度警戒範圍。」
British animal health officials have today confirmed that avian influenza detected in turkeys on a farm near Diss on the Norfolk-Suffolk border is the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus. The facility house some 5,000 turkeys as well as around 400 geese and over 1,000 ducks. All birds on the premises will be slaughtered.
This is the second occurrence of the lethal H5N1 bird flu in England this year. H5N1 is the same viral strain that has caused 206 human deaths in 12 countries and the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds from either the disease or from culling to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg says further characterization of the virus is in progress, which may give an indication of the origin of the strain. A full epidemiological investigation and tracings of any dangerous contacts are underway and all possible sources of the outbreak will be investigated, he said.
"We are keeping all poultry keepers registered on the Great Britain Poultry register informed of the developing situation and I must stress how important it is for all poultry keepers in the locality to be extremely vigilant," said Landeg. "They must report any suspicions of disease to their Animal Health office immediately and practice the highest levels of biosecurity."
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