# 1301
Figuring, I suppose, that they couldn't very well get away with blaming the Suffolk outbreak on an `immaculate infection', Defra is pointing their collective fingers at migratory birds as being the source of the H5N1 virus.
They admit, however, they have no evidence to support this conclusion.
This from the BBC News.
Wild birds probable disease cause
The preliminary report into the latest outbreak of bird flu in Suffolk concludes that wild birds were probably the main source of infection.
But no evidence has yet been found to support this theory.
The report also found that poor biosecurity was practised by some of the staff on the farm where the outbreak occurred on 11 November.
This is thought to probably be responsible for the disease spreading to another farm.
The virulent H5N1 strain of the virus, a variant capable of being transmitted to humans, was first discovered at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss, where all 6,500 birds were slaughtered.
The disease was later also confirmed to have reached the nearby Hill Meadow Farm at Knettishall - 9,000 turkeys were culled there.
Defra states that no wild birds in the vicinity have tested positive for the virus, and no die offs of wild birds have been observed. Their case against migratory birds, while logical, is circumstantial at best.
Admittedly, wild birds, which have a history of carrying the virus, are the most likely culprit here. There remain open questions, however, about other possible reservoirs of the virus.
We know that other species, besides birds, are susceptible to H5N1.
Cats, dogs, ferrets, and presumably other small mammals have been infected, and in Indonesia, cats have been shown to carry antibodies to the H5N1 virus and remain asymptomatic.
If I were betting, I'd bet on wild birds. But my scientific curiosity would have me checking all other possibilities.
Just in case.
Hopefully Defra is pursuing all avenues of investigation.
After all, you never know what you are going to find, until you look for it.
UPDATE: 0815 EDT
Reuters has a slightly different take on this story.
Wild birds not ruled out as UK bird flu source
Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:39pm GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - Wild birds cannot be ruled out as the source of an outbreak of deadly H5N1 bird flu in England, although no evidence they are contaminated has been found, the farm ministry said on Thursday.
It also said no evidence had been found so far that infected poultry or poultry products may have been the cause.
"It has not been possible, at this stage, to categorically identify the source of the outbreak," the ministry said in an initial epidemiology report.
"Wild birds cannot be ruled out as a source of infection."
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