Final Epidemiology Report For Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H7N3) Outbreak In Norfolk, England, April - May 2006 Published

The two restriction zones surrounding the three premises in Norfolk where low pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza was found were lifted at 10.00am on 26 May 2006. The decision was taken after all appropriate surveillance and tracing had been completed and clinical and laboratory testing had found no further positive results. 21 days had passed since the completion of cleansing and disinfection.


On 28 April H7N3 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza was confirmed on a poultry farm in Dereham, Norfolk. The Veterinary Laboratories Agency carried out further investigation and confirmed on 4 May 2006, that the virus is a low pathogenic strain, ruling out the presence of the high pathogenicity strain in the flock.


On 29 April tests provided positive results for avian influenza in chickens on two further poultry farms near Dereham, Norfolk. On 5 May the Veterinary Laboratories Agency confirmed that the virus was H7N3 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza.


H7 does not transmit easily from human to human. In almost all cases of human H7 infection to date, the virus, in both low and high pathogenic forms, has only caused a mild disease. Therefore at this stage this is a virus which only has extremely limited implications for human health.


-- Epidemiology report (10 July 2006): Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H7N3) outbreak in Norfolk, England, April - May 2006 PDF logo (345 KB) - This report describes the epidemiology of the outbreak of Low Pathogenic H7N3 Avian Influenza in Dereham, Norfolk in April 2006, and the detailed investigations surrounding it.


-- Legislation: Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) Order 2006.


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