Four people test positive for bird flu in Wales

Four people have tested positive for for bird flu after an outbreak of the virus on a north Wales farm, the Health Protection Agency confirmed today.

Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, previously said it was not the most dangerous H5N1 strain but H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) carried out tests on specimens from nine people associated with the incident – seven from Wales and two from north west England.

Of the four positive results, two were from Wales and two were from north west England.

The remaining five were negative, the HPA said.

Yesterday, 30 chickens were slaughtered at the smallholding in Corwen after 15 birds died.

The dead birds were 22-week-old Rhode Island Red chickens which were bought by the smallholding two weeks ago.

One of the new chickens died the day after it was taken to the farm and all later died.

Tests were carried out after the farm’s owners contacted their own vet.

A 1km restriction zone was been set up around the farm, stopping birds and bird products being moved in or out of the area.

Everyone entering the site has been taking flu drug Tamiflu as a precaution.

Pat Troop, chief executive of the Health Protection Agency, said: “As a routine precaution, we have tested those who were associated with the infected or dead birds and reported flu-like symptoms.

“We tested samples from nine people in our laboratories and confirmed infection in four.

“These test results confirm that human infection with the avian flu virus has occurred. The cases so far have been associated with the infected birds.”

She said it was important to remember that H7N2 avian flu remains largely a disease of birds.

“The virus does not transmit easily to humans. Worldwide, almost all human H7N2 infections documented so far, including those associated with this most recent incident, have been associated with infected poultry.”

Three of the nine people were treated in hospital but were later discharged.

The National Public Health Service for Wales and HPA North West is tracing and following up all close contacts of the individuals who have been ill as a “precautionary measure”.