Outbreak of bird flu 'has ended'

An outbreak was first confirmed at a smallholding in Conwy

Health officials say an outbreak of a mild form of bird flu which affected 17 people in north Wales has ended.

The first case of avian flu was found last month in poultry on a smallholding near Cerrigydrudion, Conwy.

At its height, 252 people who may have come into contact with the virus were being monitored.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) said there was "no more risk" but investigations would continue into the outbreak and its causes.

A 1km restriction zone was put in place around the smallholding at Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr on 24 May after the "low pathogenic" H7N2 strain of bird flu was confirmed in chickens which died there.

There will be lessons to be learned from this outbreak Marion Lyons, National Public Health Service for Wales

Health officials stressed the disease found was not the more virulent H5N1.

Tests were carried out on people who may have come into contact with the farm and eventually, 252 people was monitored.

Of those, 17 people suffering conjunctivitis or a flu-like illness were identified with the bird flu virus.

Health officials confirmed on Tuesday that those who had been in possible contact with infected birds, or who had been ill, were now out of the seven-day incubation period for the flu virus.

Marion Lyons, lead consultant in communicable disease control for the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: "There is no more risk of people in North Wales being infected with the virus.

In total, 252 people were monitored for the virus

"The illness people experienced was, for the most part, not serious."

The NPHS added investigations would continue into the outbreak and how it occurred.

There will also be further testing of the people who had symptoms and a report into the outbreak will be published.

Dr Lyons added: "There will be lessons to be learned from this outbreak.

"These include scientific lessons with the possibility of an addition to the body of knowledge about bird flu.

"They also include practical lessons for the handling of other outbreaks and for the management of a flu pandemic."