News

Local Police have issued the following bulletin regarding Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

The confirmed cases of Avian Influenza in Suffolk may be of concern but the swift measures taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have significantly reduced the risk of the virus spreading.

Avian Influenza is a disease of birds, not humans. There have been human deaths from the H5N1 strain outside of the UK only, these are extremely rare and have only been when the person has been in constant close contact with birds. (Worldwide there have been 62 cases where 12000 ‘normal flu’ deaths are reported in the UK annually).

Avian Influenza is not an air-borne disease and is spread by movement of infected birds or in contact with respiratory secretions, and in particular faeces. There is minimal public risk and this should not affect day-to-day activities.

There is no risk from eating poultry but the World Health Organisation recommends that meat should be cooked to at least 70 degrees centigrade and eggs should be thoroughly cooked.

DEFRA have set up a telephone hotline to answer queries in relation to Bird Flu and their number is 08459 33 55 77