Bird flu outbreak in UK is deadly H5N1 strain

The strain of bird flu found in turkeys on a farm in England is the highly pathogenic H5N1 type, acting chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg said today.

Some 5,000 turkeys, more than 1,000 ducks and 500 geese on a rearing unit site in Redgrave, Suffolk, were due to be culled after bird flu was found.

Mr Landeg was speaking ahead of a statement by Britain's environment secretary Hilary Benn to the House of Commons in London later today to update MPs on progress in dealing with the outbreak.