Press Release: Avian Influenza: UK measures endorsed; Member States urged to tighten protection measures against H5N1

A Commission Decision approving the protection, surveillance and buffer zones set up in the UK due to the recent outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Suffolk (see IP/07/134), was endorsed by Member States on 6 February 2007. The UK zones will now be added to the Annex of Decision 2006/415/EC. At the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, the UK delegation gave an update of the action being taken in response to the confirmed outbreak of the virus on a large turkey farm.