Bird Flu Outbreak 2007 - Case Study Example

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE & PUBLIC POLICY POLITICAL ECONOMY Master of Arts Public Policy stephen427927@hotmail.com Introduction In November of 2007 an outbreak of bird flu, likely the H5N1 form of the virus, also a deadly form, was found on a Suffolk farm. The Government gave stern warnings that the disease has likely already spread. Early evidence linked it to those found in the Czech Republic and Germany (Clairre). Hillary Benn, the Environmental Minister warned that is very likely more cases would be found within the area. The wild birds already sampled within the area proved to be negative for the virus. The previous case discovered of the deadly H5N1 was in February 2007 when 160,000 turkeys were culled at Bernard Matthews Turkey Farm in Suffolk. Fred Landeg, the acting chief veterinary officer could only comment that it was not yet known if these two outbreaks are related, though the possibility is being studied. Detailed investigations were carried out and it was ordered that all free-range birds for meat and eggs in Suffolk and part of Norfolk must be locked indoors to protect them from the spread of the virus (Clairre). Body More turkeys at the Bernard Matthews Farm in Suffolk were found to be contaminated with H5N1. The company then admitted that the birds had arrived from the Hungarian plant which was hit last month by the same virus. The infection is being linked to the Suffolk Processing plant used to transport meat across Britain. One site reported that a partially processed shipment of turkeys had arrived from the plant on January 27th and farm workers soon began to notice signs and symptoms of sickness. Discovery of the infection in three more of the 22 sheds dashed any hopes that the infection may have been isolated (John Vidal…). Test results indicated that these birds likely carried the identical infective agent that was discovered in Hungary despite the fact that these birds were supposed to have come from a different part of Hungary. This incidence cast some doubts on the suggestion that the virus may have arrived in Suffolk via the wild bird population. In November South Norfolk Poultry Holding had to slaughter around 7500 birds after it was discovered that there was a case of possible contamination with the deadly H5NI strain, detected in February also. All birds on the premises were slaughtered though it was not yet known if they were carriers of the deadly H5NI strain; it has been confirmed that the H5 subtype of the disease has been detected in turkeys on a farm in Redgrave, Norfolk. A two mile protection zone was posted and a six mile surveillance zone was set up around Grange Farm and all vehicles and people coming in and out monitored in order to avoid the further spread of this disease (Felix). February 10, 2007 Though Government Ministers denied any Hungarian connection to the outbreak on Matthews Farm of H5N1 bird flu, by Friday these statements were slowly being retracted. Matthews was slow to reveal the fact that he had been importing partly processed turkey from Hungary, though paperwork was available showing that it came from an unaffected area was less worrisome than the lack of knowledge shown by the politicians in charge of safeguarding the areas food supplies whom demonstrated ignorance concerning the actual means and modes of transmission of the bird flu (Joanna Blythman). February 15, 2007 Though Bernard Matthews has been insisting no cover up was taking place regarding the bird flu outbreak at his farm he broke his silence in response to the discovery of some incriminating evidence. Inspectors discovered by accident wrappers indicating that the meat came from a slaughterhouse close to the bird flu outbreak in Sarver, near the Austrian border. Until this time Matthews claims his imports came from a site one hundred miles away from this one. He blames the confusion on the fact that he often does not handle every aspect of the business and more and more has been passed to his management team to oversee, though he assures us that his products are still perfectly safe for consumers. The FSA declared two consignments fit for sale after being in storage as a precaution for a short time (Staff…). February 19, 2007 Due to the bird flu outbreak Bernard Matthews will be laying off hundreds of workers. Environmental Secretary David Millband stated that the earliest time that bird flu restriction zones could be lifted would be the second week of March. Government is considering prosecuting Matthews due to the fact that there were holes in the turkey sheds that made it easy for wild birds and vermin’s to get in and spread the disease, there were also leaks in the roofs and bins with no covers where seagulls were able to get in and carry off waste, another possible mode of spreading infection (Staff and Agencies-2). April 2, 2007 Bernard Matthews Farm was spared prosecution for the outbreak of the bird flu which resulted in a cull of 159,000 birds. The Food Standards Agency announced there was not enough evidence to prosecute. The company experienced a 40% decrease in sales and 130 staff was laid off and up to 500 may have to be laid off if sales do not recover (Staff and Agencies-3). Conclusion Bernard Matthews Farm transported turkey products, partly processed, from areas in Hungary to the plant in the UK. The strain of bird flu was the same as that that was also found in Britain. Matthew’s did not immediately disclose the exact locations his shipments were coming from and blamed management and communication for this fact. Product was found to have come from a site very close to a previous bird flu outbreak. Had this location been initially disclosed it is possible proper restrictions could have been made preventing any more infected turkeys to be delivered from this site. It is also possible this site could have been investigated much sooner, allowing health officials the opportunity to prevent the further spread of the bird flu. Department of agriculture researchers suggest that the bird flu virus is much more prevalent in high density confinement rearing methods that allow the bird flu to adapt. The World Health Organization blames the trend of emerging infectious diseases on the industrialization of the animal production sector and “intensive poultry production.” (Farm…) Live bird markets in particular are breeding grounds for the spread and mutation of the bird flu virus. Birds are under stressful conditions and these conditions make them especially prone to infection. Protection zones and surveillance zones restricting poultry from wild birds ensured that infection has not been spread to the wild bird population and around 200 cases in humans have been reported. Though it is unfortunate that many birds had to be culled the utmost of importance was preventing the spread of infection. The use of imported turkeys from Hungary is assumed to be the cause of the 2007 outbreak though it is impossible to conclude this as certainty. Very similar strains were reported in other areas of Hungary, some in Geese. November 2007 Three other farms were discovered to be infected with the same strain of the bird flu, 22,000 birds were culled due to the possibility of spread of infection from farm workers travelling between farms. This was a precautionary measure and a national ban was ordered on bird gatherings. The fact that this outbreak encompassed a number of Norfolk farms may suggest that the problem is more widespread that one location from Hungary, many processing plants and farms are likely carriers of infections and poultry coming into and out of the Country should be more closely inspected for signs and symptoms of infection. All birds were to be isolated from wild birds and any wild bird sources, such as food and water in order to keep infection from spreading to the wild bird population. Though some holdings did not house birds before the outbreaks they were all able to successfully house and separate birds though some reported that wild birds sometimes entered the housing. This exposure is not known to have allowed the spread of the infection to the wild bird population (Knight). The fundamental biosecurity errors were rare and small production losses were encountered by most of these holdings. The most likely negative consequence predicted of the bird flu outbreak was psychological (Rowe). Because of the speed of the outbreak scientists were unable to prepare public policy or develop relevant theories to the outbreak. It was maintained both during and after the event that properly cooked poultry was safe to eat. Risk factors that were identified included processing plants on site and a gull and rook problems on premises. Works Cited Clairre Truscott. (2007). Bird flu outbreak is deadly strain. Available: http://m.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/nov/13/birdflu.world?cat=uk&type=article. Last accessed 03 March 2012. Farm Animal Welfare. (2012). An HSUS Report:Human Health Implications of US Live Bird Markets in the Spread of the Avian Influenza. Available: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/farm/HSUS-Human-Health-Report-on-U-S-Live-Bird-Markets-and-Avian-Influenza.pdf. Last accessed 15th March 2012. Felix Lox. (2007). Bird Flu Outbreak Detected In Norfolk (UK). Available: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1924709/posts. Last accessed 3 Match 2010. Joanna Blythman. (2007). Bernard and Co can always rely on friends in high places. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/feb/11/birdflu.world?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487. Last accessed 15th March John Vidal, Jo Revill and Dan Bell . (2007). Bird flu outbreak spreads on Suffolk farm. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/feb/09/health.birdflu. Last accessed 14 March 2007 Knight-Jones, T, Gibbens, J, Wooldridge, M, & Stärk, K 2011, Assessment of Farm-Level Biosecurity Measures after an Outbreak of Avian Influenza in the United Kingdom, Transboundary & Emerging Diseases, 58, 1, pp. 69-75, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 March 2012. Rowe, G, Hawkes, G, & Houghton, J 2008, Initial UK public reaction to avian influenza: Analysis of opinions posted on the BBC website, Health, Risk & Society, 10, 4, pp. 361-384, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 March 2012. Staff and Agencies -2. (2007). Poultry firm to lay off 500 staff after bird flu alert. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/feb/19/birdflu.uknews?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487. Last accessed 15th March Staff and Agencies. (2007). Turkey boss denies misleading inspectors. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/feb/15/birdflu.world1?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487. Last accessed 15th March Staff and Agencies-3. (2007). Bird flu poultry farm spared prosecution. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/apr/02/health.birdflu?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487. Last accessed 15th March Read More