The worker had complained of respiratory problems and the tests were a precautionary measure. Test results would be available Thursday local time.

However, the first veterinary employee who became ill after working on the same farm was tested negative for the virus, the HPA said.

This veterinary worker was hospitalized for a "mild respiratory illness" and tested after working on a weekend outbreak of avian flue two days ago.

British officials announced Saturday that the H5N1 virus was behind the deaths of 2,500 turkeys on a farm near the town of Lowestoft, over 200 km northeast of London.

The remainder of the 160,000 birds were being culled to prevent the further spread of the disease, and veterinary officials were enforcing a "protection zone" around the farm.

Environment Secretary David Miliband on Monday urged all keepers of birds "to be vigilant and to exercise good bio-security," but adding Britain was well prepared for an outbreak.

He told lawmakers in the House of Commons that the response of British authorities "has been rapid, well coordinated and appropriate."

Miliband also said the Government's crisis committee, code-named COBRA, had met on Monday to discuss the outbreak, adding "The risk to the general public is judged by health experts to be negligible."

(Agencies)

Related:

UK veterinary employee ill, awaits bird flu test

BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A British veterinary employee has been hospitalized for a "mild respiratory illness" and was awaiting test results Wednesday after working on a weekend outbreak of avian flue.

Dr. John Watson, chief of respiratory illnesses for Britain's Health Protection Agency, said there was no risk for those treating the employee. He also said safety precautions taken by workers ensured a low risk of being exposed to the H5N1 virus found on a turkey farm northeast of London.

"Avian flu is just one of the tests our laboratory will be carrying out to try and establish the cause of this respiratory infection," Watson said in a written statement. "It should be remembered that chest infections and fevers are common in Europe at this time of year when ordinary seasonal flu circulates."