Scottland: Virus outbreak �can be contained�

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Virus outbreak 'can be contained'
Effective measures have been put in place to contain bird flu, according to Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie. 
The reassurance follows the discovery of a dead swan in Cellardyke in Fife that tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus. 
Mr Finnie said members of the poultry industry were confident the precautions being taken would contain the outbreak. 
He added that experts were working to determine poultry numbers within the executive's "surveillance zone". 
During a press conference in Anstruther, Mr Finnie said: "On the ground I'm absolutely confident that we are dealing with the task that we set ourselves - with being clear what is going on in that area." He said poultry producers were well aware of the "biosecurity burden" which had been placed on them. 
"They are confident that by applying these measures they are very hopeful that they can contain this outbreak," he said. 
Mr Finnie defended First Minister Jack McConnell's decision to stay in New York for Tartan Day celebrations, despite some calls for him to return to Scotland. 
He said the first minister had been in constant touch with him since news of the outbreak was confirmed. 
Mr Finnie was due to travel to Cellardyke on Friday afternoon in an attempt to reassure locals over the outbreak. 
Strict measures to control the movement of poultry and eggs have been put in place. 
There are fears that consumer sales could be affected. But John Kinnaird, the leader of NFU Scotland, said people must keep a sense of proportion.

Mr Kinnaird urged people to remain calm and said Friday's meeting with Mr Finnie proved the industry and the executive were "pulling together" to minimise the impact of the outbreak. 
"Hopefully, it never gets any further than one wild swan," he added. 

"That's everyone's wish at this stage, that it never gets into the domestic stock." 
A surveillance zone, put in place by the executive, covers a 2,500 sq km area. 
Poultry Culls

It includes 175 properties with 3.1 million birds, as well as free-range poultry. About 48 are free-range premises with 260,000 birds. 
An initial 1.8 mile (3km) protection zone has also been set up around Cellardyke, surrounded by a six-mile (10km) surveillance zone. 
Farmers in the affected area are being ordered to house their birds where possible, or separate them from wild birds. 
Dr Alan Hay, the Director of the World Health Organisation Influenza Centre, stressed that the risk of catching bird flu in the UK was negligible. 
And Janice Houghton-Wallace, a member of the Avian Flu Advisory group for the British Veterinary Association who also speaks on behalf of "backyard poultry keepers", said some people had already carried out culls. She urged poultry owners not to panic.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4886258.stm   

Edited by phoenixrising - April 07 2006 at 7:00am

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phoenixrising Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: March 18 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote phoenixrising Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Scottland: Virus outbreak �can be contained� Posted: April 07 2006 at 6:58am
	Virus outbreak 'can be contained' Effective measures have been put in place to contain bird flu, according to Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie. The reassurance follows the discovery of a dead swan in Cellardyke in Fife that tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus. Mr Finnie said members of the poultry industry were confident the precautions being taken would contain the outbreak. He added that experts were working to determine poultry numbers within the executive's "surveillance zone". During a press conference in Anstruther, Mr Finnie said: "On the ground I'm absolutely confident that we are dealing with the task that we set ourselves - with being clear what is going on in that area." He said poultry producers were well aware of the "biosecurity burden" which had been placed on them. "They are confident that by applying these measures they are very hopeful that they can contain this outbreak," he said. Mr Finnie defended First Minister Jack McConnell's decision to stay in New York for Tartan Day celebrations, despite some calls for him to return to Scotland. He said the first minister had been in constant touch with him since news of the outbreak was confirmed. Mr Finnie was due to travel to Cellardyke on Friday afternoon in an attempt to reassure locals over the outbreak. Strict measures to control the movement of poultry and eggs have been put in place. There are fears that consumer sales could be affected. But John Kinnaird, the leader of NFU Scotland, said people must keep a sense of proportion. Mr Kinnaird urged people to remain calm and said Friday's meeting with Mr Finnie proved the industry and the executive were "pulling together" to minimise the impact of the outbreak. "Hopefully, it never gets any further than one wild swan," he added. "That's everyone's wish at this stage, that it never gets into the domestic stock." A surveillance zone, put in place by the executive, covers a 2,500 sq km area. Poultry Culls It includes 175 properties with 3.1 million birds, as well as free-range poultry. About 48 are free-range premises with 260,000 birds. An initial 1.8 mile (3km) protection zone has also been set up around Cellardyke, surrounded by a six-mile (10km) surveillance zone. Farmers in the affected area are being ordered to house their birds where possible, or separate them from wild birds. Dr Alan Hay, the Director of the World Health Organisation Influenza Centre, stressed that the risk of catching bird flu in the UK was negligible. And Janice Houghton-Wallace, a member of the Avian Flu Advisory group for the British Veterinary Association who also speaks on behalf of "backyard poultry keepers", said some people had already carried out culls. She urged poultry owners not to panic. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4886258.stm Edited by phoenixrising - April 07 2006 at 7:00am