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UK Bird Flu Cull Widens to 22K

Culling seen as precautionary; no sign of disease spreading

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2007 12:43 PM CST

(Newser) – Some 22,000 more birds are being killed in Britain after an outbreak of bird flu on a turkey farm in Suffolk, northeast of London. The cull has been extended to four nearby sites, although the disease has only been detected at the first farm. "This is a precautionary measure taken to prevent any spread of the disease," an official tells the BBC.

All farms lie within the six-mile "surveillance zone" of the first site, and there are 4 million birds within that area. Authorities have set up a nearby control center, and have alerted farmers all over the country. A representative does not foresee a holiday turkey shortage: "This is a disease on the one farm, and I don't think it is going to get out and kill 5 million birds."

Police guard the entrance to a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Police guard the entrance to a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in...   (Associated Press)
A footpath is closed due to avian flu near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A footpath is closed due to avian flu near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in...   (Associated Press)
Dead turkeys are seen being loaded by a digger at a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a farm near Diss in Suffolk,...
Dead turkeys are seen being loaded by a digger at a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird...   (Associated Press)
Workers in protective suits work at a farm affected by an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Britain's government on Wednesday sharply increased the number of poultry to be killed as scientists searched for the source of an outbreak of...
Workers in protective suits work at a farm affected by an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Britain's government on Wednesday sharply increased...   (Associated Press)
Wild birds on a lake at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England. (AP Photo/Kirsty...
Wild birds on a lake at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found...   (Associated Press)
Dead turkeys are loaded onto an excavator at Redgrave Park Farm, in Redgrave, England, following an outbreak of bird flu at the turkey farm Tuesday Nov. 13, 2007. The source of the outbreak had not yet been identified, acting chief veterinarian official Fred Landeg said. Officials said earlier that about...
Dead turkeys are loaded onto an excavator at Redgrave Park Farm, in Redgrave, England, following an outbreak of bird flu at the turkey farm Tuesday Nov. 13, 2007. The source of the outbreak had not yet...   (Associated Press)
Chickens are seen walking free at a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in turkeys on a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Chickens are seen walking free at a farm near Diss in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. Over 20,000 birds are being culled as a precaution after the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu was found...   (Associated Press)
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