53 Birds Died At Bird Flu Centre (UK)

More than 50 birds imported from Taiwan were the most likely source of a bird flu outbreak at a UK quarantine centre last month, an official report said today. The study, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said a consignment of 101 Taiwanese mesia birds had been the most likely source of the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain at Pegasus Birds, in Essex.

It said it was impossible to say how many of the 53 birds killed in the outbreak had died of H5N1 because tissue samples from one of the finch-like birds had been pooled with those of a blue headed parrot from Surinam, South America.

Initial reports following the outbreak indicated that the parrot had introduced the virus, but today's report said these appear to have been incorrect and that the "balance of probabilities" was that the infection had been brought in by the mesias. The study added that the bird flu - of a type most commonly associated with Chinese ducks - had been passed between the mesias, but said there was no evidence of its transmission to other species in the quarantine centre.

Debby Reynolds, the government's chief veterinary officer, said the apparent lack of transmission between species would be of "particular interest to the international community", and described the new study, carried out by the National Emergency Epidemiology Group, as "important".

Oliver Letwin, the Conservative environment spokesman, criticised the government over the confusion continuing to surround the outbreak.

'Confusion reigns’ over bird flu deaths

The Telegraph (UK)
(Filed: 15/11/2005)

Opposition MPs are calling for tighter quarantine procedures after more than 50 birds died in an outbreak of avian flu at an Essex quarantine centre.

A newly released report, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said a consignment of Taiwanese mesia birds was the most likely source of the outbreak.

But Oliver Letwin, the shadow environment minister, said the report was another worrying indication that "confusion reigns".

An investigation was launched last month after a pool of tissue samples from a blue headed parrot from Surinam, South America, and a mesia from Taiwan tested positive for the H5N1 strain.

Because the sample came from both the parrot and the mesia bird, which is a type of finch, the report said it had not been possible to say for sure which bird the virus came from.

But "on the balance of probabilities", the infection was introduced to the facility by a consignment of mesias, the study concluded.

The infection was transmitting between mesias, but did not appear to have been passed on to other species held at the facility.

Mr Letwin said the report highlighted problems with the Government's handling of bird flu, and called for a tightening of quarantine procedures.

"The pooled testing of samples also remains a concern of ours, and has clearly led to the confusion and chaos at the centre of this discovery," he said.

"Defra informs us that it will be another three weeks before they will announce what they will do to strengthen the quarantine system, this delay is quite unacceptable."

Some 53 of the 101 Taiwanese birds died, though the report was unable to say how many were killed by the flu.

Ben Bradshaw, the animal welfare minister, said the discovery that the disease had been confined to the finches had "potentially huge implications" for the international efforts to combat the spread of bird flu.

"Given the fact that these finches had this strain in close confinement with birds, including chickens, and none of those birds got the infection, I think that will be found to be pretty significant around the world," he said.

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