EMERGENCY measures have been put in place today to shut down the movement of poultry to minimise the risk of bird flu spreading to other animals and even humans.

EMERGENCY measures have been put in place today to shut down the movement of poultry to minimise the risk of bird flu spreading to other animals and even humans.

Strict procedures were triggered after an outbreak of the disease was confirmed at the Bernard Matthews site at Holton, Suffolk.

It is the first time the H5N1 form of the virus, potentially one of the most dangerous to humans, has been detected at poultry farm.

There are fears that the highly pathogenic form of the virus may mutate in to a form that could be easily passed between people.

Last year, a Europe-wide strategy was agreed as scientists admitted it was inevitable the deadly form of the virus would reach the continent.

Automatic measures include a 1.8mile (3km) deep protection zone around the infected site and a monitoring area of at least a further 4.5 miles (7km).

In the protection zone, poultry must be kept indoors and movement of poultry is banned, except directly to the slaughterhouse.

And in both the protection zone and the wider surveillance zone, on-farm biosecurity measures must be strengthened.

Hunting of wild birds is banned and workers and their families are reminded of the symptoms and dangers of the disease.

The central protection area must be in place for at least 21 days following the date of collection of the samples from the infected birds.