A routine disease investigation has ruled out avian notifiable disease but detected H1N1 influenza in turkeys on a farm in Cheshire. The strain is closely similar to the human pandemic H1N1 strain currently circulating.

This discovery sees the UK joining several other countries worldwide including the USA, Canada, Chile and France, where pandemic H1N1 2009 has been confirmed in poultry. The Health Protection Agency has undertaken a thorough public health risk assessment and can confirm there is no risk to public health.

This finding has resulted from a routine notifiable avian disease investigation relating to a small number of turkeys showing mild signs of disease. During the investigation there was clinical improvement in these birds. In a press release yesterday (12th) morning, Defra stated "The UK maintains a programme of surveillance of avian influenza in domestic poultry and wild birds found dead."

"Laboratory tests have shown that statutory notifiable avian disease – where the government would need to take animal health action – can be ruled out." Restrictions that were placed on the farm have been lifted.

Defra are keen to stress that the discovery poses no food safety risk. Pandemic H1N1, in common with avian influenza, has not been shown to be transmissible to humans through eating properly handled and cooked poultry meat, products and eggs.

They maintain that bird keepers should continue to maintain appropriate biosecurity measures and be vigilant for signs of notifiable avian disease, reporting anything suspicious promptly to the Animal Health agency.