Bird flu spreads to two more farms in east England

LONDON - Chickens at two more poultry farms in eastern England have tested positive for bird flu, Britain's environment ministry said today.

"We can confirm preliminary tests indicate H7N3 (bird flu), but further tests are being carried out," said a spokeswoman, adding two free-range flocks will be slaughtered.

The H7N3 strain of bird flu was found on another farm nearby in the eastern English county of Norfolk earlier this week where 35,000 birds are being culled. The strain is less dangerous to humans than the feared H5N1 bird flu virus.

Japan said earlier today it was suspending poultry imports from Britain to prevent the spread of bird flu to domestic fowl. Norfolk is home to some of Europe's biggest poultry farms and the spokeswoman said a restrictive zone of one kilometre was being put in place around each farm.

Britain's chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said further premises may be involved.

"We are investigating whether there any links or movements between the two suspect farms and the confirmed infected premises," Reynolds said in a statement.

"The working hypothesis remains that the most likely source of the virus is from another premises or from wild birds."

Britain has been on high alert for bird flu since it discovered the H5N1 virus in a wild swan in Scotland earlier this month.

The swan was the only wild bird found in Britain so far to have the H5N1 virus, which has spread from Asia to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and led to the death and culling of 200 million birds since late 2003.

H5N1 has infected 205 people and killed 113 since 2003.

Britain's environment ministry said it had not been informed of the Japanese suspension of poultry imports.

"If it is the case we will contact the Japanese embassy to explain our view on it which is that a ban would not be appropriate given the circumstances and that would be consistent with the World Animal Health Organisation guidelines," said a spokesman for the department.

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency may have the results of tests from the two new farms tomorrow or early next week.

- REUTERS