Defra offers PPE in bird flu outbreak

Following the news of an outbreak of avian flu in Suffolk, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that measures have been taken to provide those involved with personal protection equipment (PPE).

In a statement today, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs David Miliband said that the Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency have both helped respond to the suspected outbreak.

While all those involved have been given PPE and poultry workers have been able to obtain influenza vaccines since January, Mr Miliband stated, the authorities have also provided those close to the operation with Tamiflu – the human variant of influenza – vaccine.

'Our goals are clear: to stamp out the disease, to protect public health, to protect animal health and welfare and to regain disease-free status in the UK,' he remarked.

The outbreak in Suffolk has been linked to a similar incident at a Bernard Mathews plant in Hungary, although the both the government and the firm have denied any connection, the Glasgow Evening Times reports.


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