H5N1 Avian Influenza outbreak in Holton, Suffolk January/February 2007

Background information previous UK outbreaks 1959H5N1chickens 1967H7N3turkeys 1979H7N7turkeys 1991H5N1turkeys

Map of Holton site

Timeline from 30 January Tues 30 January 71 birds died Weds 31 January 186 birds died Thurs 1 Feb 860 birds died (Total 1117). SVS notified. Restrictions put in place on farm. Fri 2 Feb Preliminary tests reveal H5 Avian flu Sat 3 Feb H5N1 confirmed. “Protection Zone” PZ of 3km radius and Surveillance Zone (SZ) of 10km radius established by Defra. A wider “restricted zone” of E Suffolk and SE Norfolk also put in place. MHS activate contingency plan. CCC(O) meeting Defra/HPA/FSA

Sun 4 Feb birds culled Mon 5 Feb H5N1 confirmed as highly pathogenic Asian strain. Culling complete Tues 6 Feb Movements of live poultry in PZ and SZ permitted under Defra licence. Weds 7 Feb Rendering of carcasses from farm completed. Ban on shooting/ hunting/scaring of birds in PZ and SZ put in place. Thurs 8 Feb Lab results show AI strain may be identical to Hungarian outbreak. Suspicion that meat from RZ may have been sent to Holton. Fri 9 Feb Sir David King says “FSA considering food recall”. Agency repeats advice : no food safety issue but if meat from Hungary was from Restricted Zone, it would be illegal. Defra confirmed not asking for recall on animal health grounds.

Sat 10 Feb FSA statement and investigation into possible import of meat from near/in restricted zone. Investigation under way. Sun 11 Feb Investigation continues Mon 12 Feb Investigation continues. Bulk consignments identified in cold stores. BM agrees to hold temporarily until it can be confirmed that no meat from Hungarian Restricted Zone involved. Wed 14 Feb Information received from Hungary enables BM cold store meat to be released Fri 16 Feb Investigation report due to be completed.

Agencies involved in legal process Defra / State Veterinary Service (SVS) –AI Directive 2005/94/EC and SI 2006/2702 – animal health measures: establishment of restricted zones control movements provide enforcement measures FSA and MHS (DARD in NI) –enforces food law at approved plants –enforces POAO Regs. at approved plants –MHS acts on behalf of Defra on some animal health issues HPA (DoH) –health of workers exposed to AI –health of general population