The bird flu has got to the UK. It was expected that at some point the H5N1 virus would find its way into the UK through migrating birds as it did last year and like last year it has been located and swiftly dealt with. In all 160,000 birds were killed in a mass cull and then burnt to eradicate the disease completely from the area. It is not known how the H5N1 virus entered the farm in the first place but it is likely that the virus came from a wild bird migrating through the area.

The outbreak was detected at a Bernard Matthews turkey farm and immediately all the birds were killed in line with the correct procedures. On top of this a zone of just over 6 miles has been set up around the farm and no bird meat, eggs and poultry must go through this radius and there is to be a lock down enforced on over 500 farms that are in an 800 sq. mile area of the infected farm. This is going to have a big effect on many supermarkets that rely on the produce from these farms but it seems that the demand for chicken and eggs is also down following the locating of the bird flu virus.

Some countries notably Russia and Japan have decided to ban the import of all birds and eggs from the UK and it is likely that other countries will also do the same. Live birds will not be allowed into Ireland for the time being.

People who own cats which are said to be very likely to get the disease are being asked to keep them inside and well away from any birds especially in farms. Cats could be the mutating link that could get the H5N1 virus developing into a human airborne form.

Tamiflu and Relenza are the best medicines to have in case of a bird flu pandemic.