A poultry worker has contracted the H7 strain of bird flu in the form of conjunctivitis, the Health Protection Agency confirmed on Friday night.The affected person is thought to have contracted the infection via close contact with poultry on a farm in Hockering, Norfolk.

A poultry worker has contracted the H7 strain of bird flu in the form of conjunctivitis, the Health Protection Agency confirmed on Friday night.

The affected person is thought to have contracted the infection via close contact with poultry on a farm in Hockering, Norfolk.

An HPA spokeswoman said the worker's symptoms were limited to an eye infection and would not release any further details about the age or gender of the sufferer.

Meanwhile, letters were being delivered to some 1,800 homes near to the farm, as vets continued to slaughter 35,000 chickens after the virus was detected earlier this week.

For full story see Saturday's EADT