Bird flu: Fifth farm culled

A further 68,000 birds, including 56,000 ducks, 9,000 turkeys and 3,000 geese, are to be slaughtered as a precautionary measure on Grange Farm in Redgrave, within the AI surveillance zone.

Acting chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg said: "This decision has been taken based on new information which indicates the possibility that the poultry on this premise may have been exposed to infection.

"I can not emphasise enough that it is essential all poultry keepers practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health office."

Geoffrey Buchanan, operations director with Gressingham Foods said: "Defra has declared [Grange Farm] as a dangerous contact as the five seasonal workers who operated the Redgrave Park, Grove, Hill Meadow, Stone House and Bridge farms were lodging in a mobile home on Grange farm.

"On the Tuesday, the day after avian flu was identified at Redgrave Park farm, we moved the workers in to a local bed and breakfast, as per Defra's guidelines to minimise movements on to and off farms."

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