Turkeys in the UK are set to be vaccinated in a trial to stamp out bird flu for the first time as poultry farmers battle a surge in cases ahead of Christmas.
Experts concerned about the rise in recent UK cases hope launching a trial on turkeys could help to offset a possible bird flu epidemic.
It follows 57 recent cases of bird - or avian - flu on farms in Wales which led to thousands of turkeys and chickens being killed to prevent its spread. Around five per cent of the seasonal flock - around 300,000 turkeys, ducks and chickens - are estimated to have been culled so far.
Poultry supplies - particularly of organic and free range birds which are more susceptible to bird flu - are likely to be restricted as we head towards the festive season.
The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss confirmed today that a trial would go ahead to see whether a vaccine could prevent bird flu.
'There has been a spate of bird flu cases for the last five years with massive impact for industry and we have worked with industry to understand the positives and negatives of vaccination.
'They sent out a report this summer from a joint task force which recommended trialling vaccination in turkeys so we are looking at taking this forward,' she confirmed.
Dr Middlemiss told the BBC that turkeys had been selected for the trial because bird flu tended to hit 'during our seasonal turkey production'.
Poultry supplies - particularly of organic and free range birds which are more susceptible to bird flu - are likely to be restricted as we head towards the festive season (file image)
'Turkeys are an important sector and we think there could be benefits so we need to understand now just how effective a vaccine in turkeys might be and how long it will last.'
She confirmed the UK was already working with international partners including France, where ducks have been vaccinated for bird flu, to assess the likely impact of any trials here.
'We have been working closely with international partners including France which has been vaccinating for a couple of years. They have found the vaccine dampens down the virus but it does not stop it so they have had six cases recently in those ducks.'
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, she downplayed concerns that the virus could pass to humans, but warned:
'Our absolute number one priority is stopping it passing to other birds and mammals and potentially to people.
'Human health colleagues tell us the risk is very low but in specific cases of ongoing contact with affected birds - there can be a risk so our advice is not to handle sick or dead birds.'