Biological Hazard in United Kingdom on Monday, 17 November, 2014 Description A case of avian flu has been confirmed on a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said. Defra said there is at least one case of the virus at the farm - but insisted the risk to public health is very low. It confirmed the entire flock - about 6,000 ducks - would be culled as a result. A Defra spokesperson said: We have confirmed a case of avian flu on a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire - the public health risk is very low and there is no risk to the food chain. We are taking immediate and robust action which includes introducing a 10km restriction zone and culling all poultry on the farm to prevent any potential spread of infection. A detailed investigation is ongoing. We have a strong track record of controlling and eliminating previous outbreaks of avian flu in the UK. Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that spreads among birds. In rare cases it can affect humans. There are 16 different avian flu types. The H5N1 strain is the one that causes the most concern because it is the most virulent and deadliest. Defra said the type discovered at the duck farm is H5 - but not H5N1. The exact strain will be confirmed after final test results. The NHS website states: There are many types of bird flu, most of which are harmless to humans. However, two types have caused serious concern in recent years. These are the H5N1 and H7N9 viruses. Although these viruses dont infect people easily and are usually not transmitted from human to human, several people have been infected around the world, leading to a number of deaths. Other bird flu viruses (particularly H7N7 and H9N2) have also infected people, but these have rarely caused severe illness. Public Health England is assisting Defra in the investigation of the outbreak at the farm in Yorkshire. A spokesman said: Based on what we know about this specific strain of avian influenza the risk to human health in this case is considered extremely low. Biohazard name: H5N1 (highly pathogenic avian influenza virus) Biohazard level: 4/4 Hazardous Biohazard desc.: Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release. Symptoms: Status: confirmed
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:43:13 +0000
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