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More on KentOnline
The devastated owner of a bird farm that's subject to an ongoing avian flu cull by authorities has described watching one of her beloved bird's last moments.
Sophie Hayes described the harrowing scene where a goose was shot with a bolt gun but did not die instantly, instead it watched its owner until another shot to the head finally ended its life.
The cull of 480 birds began yesterday at Chookies Farm and Feed in Hacklinge, near Deal, after The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced on Monday that annual tests had indicated that low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) of the H5N2 was present among her livestock.
The most dangerous strain is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), but both strains are deadly, highly contagious and will instigate a cull by DEFRA if found or suspected.
The culling is due to be completed today, the government department confirmed.
This began despite pleas from farm owner Ms Hayes, who begged for more time to determine whether there was a positive case, after suspicion of an outbreak was identified by the government's chief vet on Sunday.
But a positive case for (LPAI) was confirmed by laboratory tests from samples from the farm's chicken and ducks on Monday and a 1km (LPAI) Restricted Zone was put around the area to prevent the disease spreading.
Ms Hayes, whose plight has amassed large interest on the farm's Facebook page, and now national media, filmed a distressing video showing the dead birds being removed from the site last night in plastic bags.
She said despite DEFRA's advice for her to stay away for her own mental health, she was staying with her animals "until the very end".
When they were to cull a goose she wanted to watch to see how humane it was.
She said: "The first bolt gun that was used went straight through the head but it didn't kill it. It was watching me. It was looking at me and it was injured. It was in pain."
On another Facebook live video Ms Hayes said last night the strain of influenza that they were tested for can be mistaken for micro plasma, a respiratory illness which a number of her now dead birds did have.
She said it is common and she was treating the birds with a preparation. "So now I've lost nearly everything for respiratory illness potentially," she said.
Symptoms of bird flu are published on DEFRA's website, which says the most serious strain of avian flu (HPAI) can be identified by respiratory distress such as gaping beak, coughing, sneezing, gurgling or rattling.
But a spokesman said Monday's positive laboratory result, albeit for the lesser serious strain, supersedes any speculation on whether symptoms can be mistaken.
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Avian flu has been confirmed at a small commercial premises in Kent. Immediate steps have been taken to limit the risk of the disease spreading and all remaining poultry and captive birds at the farm will be culled.
“Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. There will be no impact on food supply as this business does not supply poultry meat or eggs to the commercial food chain.
“Bird keepers should remain alert for any signs of disease, report suspected disease immediately and ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.
“We are urgently looking for any evidence of disease spread associated with this farm to control and eliminate it.”
This case of LPAI is the first in the UK since June which had been the first since 2017.
A positive and unrelated case of HPAI has been confirmed in Cheshire.
All 13,500 birds at that farm are being culled.
A Food Standards Agency spokesperson said: “The Food Standard Agency advises that, on the basis of the current scientific evidence, this strain of avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
“The wider risk posed by avian influenzas through the food chain is very low. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, remain safe to eat.”
A detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of this outbreak.
Meanwhile, people have taken to Facebook to show their support for Ms Hayes and her birds.
Dom Wood posted: "This is Sophie's life and she is such a kind, knowledgeable person. I just can't get my head around the way they are treating this case."
For advice on how bird keepers can spot avian flu, click here.
