Couple tested after 'low risk' bird flu kills their chickens

Tony and Barbara Williams have shown flu-like symptoms which may signal that they caught the infection from handling the birds.

The hens on their farm in North Wales had the H7N2 strain of bird flu, which is less contagious and dangerous than the better-known H5N1 strain which hit a Bernard Matthews turkey plant in January.

Scroll down for more...

If passed to humans, the symptoms, which can include conjunctivitis, are generally mild and simple to treat.

However, there is a danger that the virus can mutate into a strain which can be more harmful to humans unless it is quickly stamped out.

A 1km restriction zone has been placed around Tyn Llwyn farm in Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Clwyd. This bans the movement of farm birds in or out of the zone.

It is thought that the infection arrived at the farm when Mr and Mrs Williams bought 15 young Rhode Island Red hens at a market in nearby Corwen two weeks ago, bringing their total number of birds to 45 chickens and two geese.

Ten birds died over the last two weeks.

Scroll down for more...

Neighbour Medwyn Roberts said Mr Williams kept chickens as a hobby but had recently trebled his number of hens.

"Tony keeps hens for eggs for himself and his neighbours," he said.

"I know that he took delivery of around 15 new birds a few weeks ago.

"He told me that one of the birds was already dead when they arrived. He will be gutted by what's happened."

Inspectors dressed in white forensic-type suits and masks examined the white stone cottage and the handful of small chicken sheds in its back garden.

They arranged for the slaughter of all the remaining birds on the property.

The chief veterinary officer for Wales, Dr Christianne Glossop, said: "We would remind poultry keepers throughout Wales to look for signs of disease.

"As the jigsaw puzzle becomes clearer we may put restraints on holdings in other parts of Britain."

Senior medical officer for Wales, Dr Mike Simmons, said supplies of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu have been delivered to the area to protect the human population.

He said, however: "There is no ongoing risk to the public."

The Food Standards Agency said there would be no risk of contracting the virus from eating eggs from the farm.

A spokesman said: "The virus does not get into meat and eggs, but consumers should always ensure that poultry products are thoroughly cooked."

Dr Colin Butter of the Institute For Animal Health said: "While we must take this outbreak seriously, there is no reason for the public to panic.

"There was a similar outbreak in Norfolk in 2006 that was well contained with no risk to the public."