News - Anti-viral drugs for bird workers
Almost 500 workers have been offered anti-viral drugs following the outbreak of avian flu on the Bernard Matthews poultry farm in Holton, Suffolk.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the 480 people included workers and those involved in the clean-up.
Six people who developed flu-like symptoms underwent tests, but tested negative for avian flu, the HPA said.
It added it was continuing to monitor the situation locally, working with Defra and the Bernard Matthews company.
Nearly 160,000 turkeys were culled at the firm’s Holton plant after the potentially fatal H5N1 strain of bird flu was discovered on 3 February
The HPA said that as a precautionary measure, a small number of workers involved in the cleaning and decontamination process were still taking anti-viral medications.
Dr Jonathan Van Tam, a flu expert at the Agency, said: “The risk of any workers testing positive for avian flu has been, and remains, very low as they have followed all the necessary precautions in terms of protective clothing and hygiene measures, and have been offered antiviral drugs.”
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