THE Shenington bird flu outbreak went undetected for three weeks, according to media reports.
The Times has today reported that the alarm was only raised when about ten per cent of Eastwood Farm's 25,000-strong chicken flock was found dead.
However, Defra officials and farm owner Richard Court have stressed to the
Banbury Guardian that action has been swift.
Defra have responded to the article, releasing the following statement: "At this stage in the investigation it is not possible to say when disease was first present on the farm in Oxfordshire.
"From time to time domestic poultry may become ill, but this does not necessarily mean that they have contacted a notifiable disease.
"There are a range of signs and symptoms of avian influenza and these will depend on the strain involved.
"We urge all bird keepers to be constantly vigilant for any signs of illness in their birds and practice the highest level of biosecurity.
"Bird keepers should consult their private vet promptly if there are signs of illness in their birds and report possible notifiable disease to the local Animal Health office."
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